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:i^.:;iirs  iith  m 


JOHN    MARTIN    BOLZIUo, 


ST     EVAHGLLIC.AL      PREACHER     OF    THt    SAL28UR(3     CONGREGATION 
AT    EBENEZER     \N     GEORGIA. 

AD     nrClA,  1703.  OBDAHJEO       NOV.    II 


THE 


SALZBURGERS 


Cljm'  ptstcnbants: 


PEIXG    TIIK    HISTORY    OF 

A  COLONY  or  GERMAN  (LUTHERAN)  PROTESTANTS,  WHO 

EMIGRATED  TO  GEORGIA  IN  1734,  AND  SETTLED  AT 

EBENEZER.  TWENTY-FIVE  MILES  ABOVE 

THE  CITY  OF  SAVANNAH. 


BY 

Rev.  p.  a.  STROBEL, 

or  THE  SOUTH   CAROUNA  STXOD,   AND   PRINCIPAL  OF   THE   FEMALE  INSTTTCTK, 
AMERICUS,   GEORGIA. 


"Alii  multa  perficiiint ;  nos  nonnulla  conamur;  Illi  possunt;  nos 
volumus." 

"Others  accomplish  many  thinps — we  endeavour  to  efifect  something; 
they  have  the  power,  ur  have  the  will." 


BALTIMORE: 
PUBLISHED  BY  T.  NEWTON  KURTZ, 

No.  151  WEST  PRATT  STREET. 
1855. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1855,  by 

P.  A.  STROBEL, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 

District  of  Georgia. 


STEREOTYPED  BY  L.  JOHXSOX  &  CO. 
PHILADELPHIA. 


§tiritati(rn, 


To  my  brethren  in  the  Lutheran  ministry,  this 
volume  is  most  aflfectionately  and  respectfully  in- 
scribed; with  the  fervent  prayer,  that  by  carefully 
studying  the  history  of  the  Salzburgers,  and  especially 
the  unfeigned  devotion  and  ardent  zeal  of  the  first 
preachers  of  the  American  Lutheran  Church,  we  may 
all  be  stimulated  to  aim  at  a  more  elevated  standard 
of  piety,  and  consecrate  ourselves  afresh  to  His  service, 
who  hath  redeemed  us  with  his  blood,  and  honoured 
us  by  appointing  us  his  ambassadors,  to  reconcile  the 
world  unto  himself. 

The  Author. 


BxthtL 


This  little  volume  is  submitted  to  the  public  with 
an  unfeigned  difl&dence,  and  with  many  apprehensions 
that  it  may  not  meet  the  expectations,  even  of  those 
who  have  most  warmly  urged  its  publication.  The 
means  of  information  which  the  author  possessed, 
were  too  limited,  to  justify  the  belief  that  the 
book  could  possibly  be  regarded  as  a  complete  and 
satisfactory  history  of  the  Salzburgers.  It  is,  how- 
ever, to  be  hoped,  that  notwithstanding  its  many  de- 
fects, a  sufficient  number  of  interesting  facts  have 
been  presented,  to  render  the  work  acceptable  to  those 
who  read  for  instruction,  and  not  to  indulge  a  spirit 
of  captious  criticism.  The  author  is  sensible  of  his 
incompetency  to  do  justice  to  the  subject,  and  he 
would  cheerfully  have  committed  the  undertaking  to 
abler  hands.  If  he  shall  accomplish  no  more  than 
to  rescue  the  Salzburgers  from  the  obscurity  into  which 
they  have  been  permitted  to  lapse,  he  will  not  have 
laboured  in  vain.  The  hope  is  cherished  that,  under 
the  blessing  of  God,  this  work  may  be  the  means  of 
kindling  in  the  heart  of  every  one  who  may  peruse  it, 

a  sincere  desire  to  emulate  the  lofty  piety  and  Chris- 
1*  o 


6  PREFACE, 

tian  heroism  of  those,  who  in  the  maintenance  of  their 
religious  principles  cheerfully  suffered  "the  loss  of 
all  things/^  and  have  furnished  an  example  of  patient 
endurance,  under  every  form  of  persecution,  and  of 
ardent  zeal  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  which  furnishes 
one  of  the  brightest  pages  in  the  history  of  the 
church  since  the  days  of  the  apostles. 

P.  A.  Strobel. 

Americus,  Georgia,  March,  1855. 


Cralina. 


**  The  Committee  appointed  by  Synod  to  examine 
the  manuscript  'History  of  the  Salzburgers  and  their 
Descendants  at  Ebenezer/  by  the  Rev.  P.  A.  Strobel, 
beg  leave  to  submit  the  following  report : 

*'  They  have  carefully  examined  the  manuscript,  and 
cheerfully  express  their  gratification  at  the  judicious 
selection  of  the  materials  from  various  sources  diffi- 
cult of  attainment,  by  which  a  historical  sketch  has 
been  given  of  the  cruel  persecutions,  the  Christian 
firmness,  and  devoted  piety  of  the  ancient  Salzburgers. 

"  In  recommending  the  work  to  the  patronage  of 
the  Christian  public,  and  especially  the  members  of 
our  own  communion,  they  feel  assured  that  the  readers 
will  be  amply  rewarded  in  the  elevated  standard  of 
Christianity  which  this  volume  holds  out  for  their 
imitation." 

John  Bachman,  D.D. 

L.  ElCHELBERGER,  D.D. 

A.  J.  Karn. 

November  13,  1854. 

7 


funitnis. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  causes  which  led  to  the  Colonization  of  America- 
French  Colony  in  Florida — Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay — 
The  Puritans — Intolerance  of  the  Church  of  England — 
The  Salzburgers^-Contrast  between  them  and  the  Puri- 
tans— Injustice  done  to  the  former — The  Origin  of  the 
Salzburgers — Their  persecutions  by  the  dukes  of  Savoy — 
They  embrace  the  Doctrines  of  the  Reformation — Cruelty 
toward  their  pastor — The  Valleys  of  Tefifereck — Their  Re- 
treats discovered — Miximilian  Gudolph — Salzburgers  be- 
fore the  Bishop's  Court  at  Hallein — Renewed  persecutions 
— Sympathy  of  Protestant  States — Elector  of  Branden- 
burg— Corpus  Evangelicum — Return  of  the  Teffereckers — 
Duplicity  and  Treachery  of  the  Catholic  Authorities — 
Penalties  imposed  on  the  Salzburgers — Banishment  and 
Confiscation  of  their  Estates — Severe  Sufferings  of  the 
Exiles — Joseph  Schaitberger — Remarkable  conversion  of 
his  daughter — Schaitberger  as  an  author — The  Confession 
of  Faith — The  Salzburg  Emigrant's  Song — Persecutions 
under  Leopold — Archbishopric  of  Salzburg — The  City  of 
Salzburg — Thirty  thousand  Protestants  exiled— Their  re- 
ception by  Protestant  States Page     19 

CHAPTER  II. 

Charter  granted  by  Charles  11,  to  the  Trustees  for  establish- 
ing the  Colony  of  Georgia — The  design  of  the  colony — 
General  Oglethorpe — English  settlers  arrive  at  Savannah — 


10  CONTENTS. 


"  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  Christian  Knowledge" — 
Interest  on  behalf  of  the  Salzburgers — Arrangements  to 
remove  the  Salzburgers  to  Georgia — Fifty  families  engaged 
for  the  first  transportation — Provision  made  by  the  "  So- 
ciety"— Liberality  of  the  "  Trustees" — First  company  of 
emigrants — Love  of  country — Departure  from  their  homes 
— Incidents  of  their  journey — The  city  of  Augsburg — Hos- 
pitalities extended  to  the  Salzburgers — Recommence  their 
travels — Rev.  S.  Urlsperger — EflFects  of  the  sojourn  of  the 
Salzburgers  at  Augsburg — Revival  of  religion — Further 
Incidents — Arrival  in  the  city  of  Frankfort — Conduct  of 
the  Burgers — Procession — Entrance  into  the  city — Hospi- 
tality of  the  inhabitants — Departure  from  Frankfort — The 
Maine  and  Rhine — Arrival  at  Rotterdam — Rev.  Messrs. 
Bolzius  and  Gronau — Departure  from  Rotterdam — Arrival 
at  Dover,  in  England — Impressions  made  by  the  emigrant? 
on  their  English  benefactors — Preparations  for  leaving 
England — Departure  of  the  Purisburg,  first  ship  with  Ger- 
man emigrants Page    44 


CHAPTER  IIL 

The  Salzburgers  at  sea — Conduct  during  the  voyage — Arrival 
at  Charleston,  S.  C. — General  Oglethorpe — Departure  from 
Charleston — Arrival  at  Savannah — Sentiments  of  the  emi- 
grants— Their  reception  at  Savannah — Notes  of  Mr.  Bol- 
zius— Baron  Von  Reck — Conduct  of  the  Indians — Disem- 
barkation of  the  Salzburgers — Liberality  of  General  Ogle- 
thorpe— Expedition  into  the  country — Description  of  the 
country — Devout  conduct  of  the  Salzburgers — Ebenezer — 
Foundation  of  the  colony — Location  of  their  settlement — 
Uchee  Indians — St.  Matthew's  Parish — Lord  Effingham — 
Town  laid  out — Salzburgers  remove  to  their  new  home — 
Impressions  in  relation  to  the  nature  of  the  country — Baron 
Von  Reek's  enthusiastic  description — Real  character  of  the 
country — Assignment  of  lots — Hardships  incident  to  colo- 
nization— Scarcity  of  mechanics  and  materials  for  build- 
ing— ^Other  trials — Sickn«Ba  and  death  among  the  colonists 


CONTENTS.  11 


— Extracts  from  Mr.  Bolzius's  journal — Influence  of  afflic- 
tion— Arrival  of  a  second  company  of  Salzburgers — Im- 
provement in  the  condition  of  the  colony — Progress  of  the 
town,  &c Page     57 


CHAPTER  IV. 

General  Oglethorpe  visits  England — Favourable  condition  of 
the  colony — Trustees  determine  to  send  out  reinforcements 
— Aid  from  British  Parliament — Character  of  the  colonists 
engaged — Highlanders  and  Salzburgers — Liberal  terms 
proposed  by  the  Trustees — Captain  HermsdorfiF  and  Baron 
Von  Reck — The  Trustees  charter  the  "  London  Merchant" 
and  the  "  Symond" — The  "  great  embarkation" — English 
and  German  emigrants — Moravians  under  Bishop  Nitsch- 
man — John  and  Charles  Wesley — Departure  from  England 
— Storm  at  sea — Effect  of  the  conduct  of  the  Germans  upon 
Mr.  Wesley — Testimony  of  Dr.  Jackson,  President  of 
British  Conference — Mr.  Wesley's  spiritual  condition — Con- 
ference with  Mr.  Spangenburg — Influence  of  the  Mora- 
vians— Rev.  Peter  Boehler — Salzburgers  confounded  with 
the  Moravians — Mistake  of  Mr.  Bancroft — Removal  of 
Moravians  to  Pennsylvania — Mr.  Wesley's  religious  expe- 
rience— Extract  from  his  journal — Subsequent  visit  to 
England — His  conversion — Luther's  preface  to  the  Epistle 
to  the  Romans — Mr.  Wesley's  preaching  after  his  conver- 
sion— Forms  "  Societies,"  the  basis  of  Wesleyan  Method- 
ism— The  Methodist  Church  a  fruit  of  the  Lutheran  Re- 
formation— Arrival  of  the  "  embarkation"  at  Savannah — 
Settlement  of  Salzburgers  on  St.  Simon's  Island — Views  of 
the  Germans  in  relation  to  war — Reinforcement  at  Eben- 
ezer — Lutheran  settlement  at  Frederica — Rev.  U.  Dreisler — 
Revs.  Bolzius  and  Gronau  visit  Savannah — Conference 
with  General  Oglethorpe — Salzburgers  dissatisfied  with 
their  location,  and  desire  a  change — General  Oglethorpe 
visits  Ebenezer — Reasons  of  the  Salzburgers  for  desiring 
to  remove — General  Oglethorpe's  advice  and  kindness  to 
the  Salzburgers — Change  of  location  determined  upon 73 


12  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  V. 

New  Ebenezer — Its  location,  and  the  plan  upon  which  is  was 
laid  out — The  environs  of  the  town — Its  rapid  growth — 
Municipal  and  other  regulations — Rules  originally  adopted 
for  the  government  of  the  congregation — The  duties  of 
pastors  set  forth — Elders  and  wardens — Parochial  schools 
— Church  members,  &c. — Dr.  H.  M.  Muhlenberg — Salaries 
of  the  pastors — Their  responsibilities — Relation  to  the 
church  in  Germany — Sale  of  rum  prohibited,  and  the  in- 
troduction of  Negro  slaves — Effects  of  these  regulations 
on  the  colony  at  Ebenezer — Mr.  Bolzius,  Rev.  George 
Whitfield,  and  Baron  Von  Reck  on  slavery — Position  of 
Mr.  Bolzius — Views  of  Hon.  James  Habersham  and  Rev. 
S.  Urlsperger — Controversy  settled,  and  slavery  allowed — 
The  Salzburgers  and  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Germany — 
Liberality  of  the  latter — Education — "  Bethany"  church — 
Favourable  condition  of  the  settlement — Religious  cha- 
racter of  the  inhabitants — Their  industry,  frugality,  &c. — 
Letter  of  Mr.  Bolzius — Rev.  George  "Whitfield  at  Ebenezer 
— His  testimony  in  favour  of  the  Salzburgers — He  visits 
the  Orphan  House — Letter  of  Thomas  Jones — Principal 
settlers  at  Ebenezer  up  to  1741 — The  invasion  of  Georgia 
by  Spaniards — Another  letter  of  Mr.  Bolzius — Extracts 
from  his  journal — Statement  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Martyn — 
New  arrivals — Emigrants  bind  themselves  as  servants — 
Frederick  Helfenstein — Lutheran  church  in  Savannah 
founded — Rev.  U.  Driesler — His  death — Rev.  Mr.  Zublii — 
The  town  of  Frederica — Dr.  H.  M.  Muhlenberg  visits 
Ebenezer — Mr.  Gronau — "Jerusalem"  church  at  Ebenezer 
— "  Zion's"  church — Extracts  from  Mr.  Bolzius's  journal — 
Death  of  Mr.  Gronau Page     90 

CHAPTER  VL 

State  of  feeling  at  Ebenezer  consequent  on  the  death  of  Mr. 
Gronau — Mr.  Bolzius  writes  to  Germany  for  an  assistant — 


CONTENTS.  13 


His  humility  and  devotion — The  church  in  Germany  send 
over  another  pastor — Rev.  H.  H.  Lembko  arrives  at  Eben- 
ezer — His  reception — Marries  the  widow  of  Mr.  Gronau — 
Mr.  Bolzius  retains  his  position — Mr.  Bolzius,  as  trustee, 
erects  mills — Silk  culture  introduced  at  Ebenezer — Mr. 
Amatis  of  Piedmont — Mulberry-trees  planted  at  Ebenezer 
— Success  of  the  Salzburgers  in  raising  silk — Bridge  and 
causeway  over  Ebenezer  Creek — New  church  and  school- 
house  erected — Pastoral  labours — Extent  of  the  field  to  be 
cultivated — Goshen  church — Abercorn — Extension  of  the 
settlements  around  Ebenezer — Demand  for  more  ministe- 
rial labour — Rev.  C.  Rabenhorst  arrives  at  Ebenezer — Mr. 
Bolaius's  letter  on  his  arrival — Change  of  views — Pro- 
vision for  the  support  of  the  new  pastor — Condition  of  the 
colony — Mr.  Bolzius  assigns  his  trusteeship  to  Mr.  Lembke 
—Copy  of  the  deed  of  trust— The  "  Trust"  to  be  transfer- 
red— Subsequent  change — Erection  of  another  mill — Mr. 
Bolzius  begins  to  decline  in  health — The  symbolical  books 
— Proper  views  in  relation  to  the  "  Fathers" — Confessions 
and  catechisms — Deep-toned  piety  of  the  first  pastors  at 
Ebenezer — Mr.  Bolzius's  labours — His  letters — Rev.  S. 
Urlsperger  and  Dr.  Zeigenhagen — Close  of  his  ministerial 
duties — His  illness  and  death — Mr.  Bolzius's  ff\m\\y...Page  125 


CHAPTER  VIL 

State  of  affairs  at  Ebenezer  consequent  upon  the  death  of 
Mr.  Bolzius — Increase  of  population  and  of  ministerial 
labour — Transfer  of  trust  to  Mr.  Rabenhorst — Harmony 
between  the  two  pastors — Jerusalem  church  built  at  Eben- 
ezer— Description  of  the  edifice — The  Swan,  Luther's  coat 
of  arms  —  Death  of  Mr.  Lembke  —  His  character  as  a 
preacher — Gottlieb  Snider — Rev.  C.  F.  Triebner  sent  over 
as  successor  to  Mr.  Lembke — His  character — Marries  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  Lembke — Injudicious  selection — Division 
in  the  church — Controversy  between  Messrs.  Rabenhorst 
and  Triebner — Dr.  H.  M,  Muhlenberg  arrives  at  Ebenezer 
— Object  of  his  mission — His  prudent  and  judicious  con- 


14  CONTENTS. 


duct — The  grounds  of  dispute  stated — Elders  prefer  charges 
against  Mr.  Triebner — Origin  of  the  difficulty — Dr.  Muh- 
lenberg's eflforts  to  reconcile  the  parties — His  views  of  the 
case — Opinion  of  Mr.  Triebner — Plan  of  settlement  pro- 
posed— Reconciliation — Dr.  Muhlenberg's  reflections — His 
opinion  of  Mr.  Rabenhorst — Exculpates  him  from  all  cen- 
sure— His  estimation  of  Mr.  Rabenhorst  as  a  man  and  as 
a  preacher — Dr.  Muhlenberg's  labours  among  the  Salzbur- 
gers — Saves  the  church  property  from  alienation Page  148 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Dr.  Muhlenberg  still  at  Ebenezer — Church  discipline — Views 
and  practices  of  the  founders  of  American  Lutheran  Church 
— Evils  arising  from  want  of  discipline — False  views  on 
the  subject — The  discipline  adopted  at  Ebenezer  in  1774, 
and  duties  of  pastors,  officers,  and  church  members  de- 
fined— List  of  church  members  who  signed  the  discipline, 
as  certified  by  Dr.  Muhlenberg — Settlements  at  Abercorn 
and  Goshen — Mr.  Knox  buys  the  lands  at  Abercorn — Mo- 
ravian missionaries  brought  over  to  preach  to  the  Negroes 
— Labours  of  the  Moravians  at  Goshen — Fears  of  Dr.  Muh- 
lenberg— Moravians  not  successful — Advice  to  them  by 
one  of  the  Salzburgers — Fears  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg  not 
realized — Moravians  leave  the  settlement — Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg's successful  labours  at  Ebenezer — He  leaves  Georgia 
for  Philadelphia — Condition  of  the  congregation  at  Phila- 
delphia— Reflections 164 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Affairs  at  Ebenezer  after  Dr.  Muhlenburg's  departure — Ra- 
benhorst and  Triebner — Pastors  cease  to  be  Trustees,  and 
the  trust  transferred  to  the  church  officers — Mr.  Raben- 
horst created  first  pastor — State  of  feeling  between  the 
two  pastors — Inventory  of  church  property — Its  estimated 
value — Church  funds — Views  of  the  propriety  of  creating 
them — A  case  of  necessity  with  the  Salzburgers — General 


CONTENTS.  15 


stato  of  the  colony — Prosperity  of  Ebonezer — A  fancy 
sketch — Commercial  relations  of  Ebenezer — Gradual  eiten- 
eion  of  the  settlements — New  settlers  come  in — Commence- 
ment of  the  Revolution — Stamp  Act  and  tax  on  tea — State 
of  the  public  mind  in  the  Province  of  Georgia — Position 
of  the  Salzburgers — Provincial  Congress  in  Savannah — 
Salzburgers  in  that  Congress — Majority  of  them  side  with 
the  Colonists — Protest  of  a  portion  of  the  Salzburgers — 
Adherents  to  the  Crown  in  St.  Matthew's  Parish — Patriotic 
and  noble  sentiments  of  the  Salzburgers — Mr.  Triebner 
Bides  with  the  Crown — Judicious  course  of  Mr.  Rabenhorst 
— His  long  and  successful  labours,  and  death Page  188 

CHAPTER  X. 

Descent  of  the  British  upon  Georgia — General  Provost  takes 
Savannah — British  posts  along  the  river — Mr.  Triebner 
takes  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  crown,  and  conducts 
troops  to  Ebenezer — A  garrison  established  under  Major 
Maitland — Proclamation  issued  by  Major  Maitland — Some 
of  the  Salzburgers  take  "protections" — Majority  of  the 
Salzburgers  Whigs — Governor  Treutlen — Holsendorf — John 
and  Samuel  Stirk — John  Schnider — Strohaker — Jonathan 
and  Gottlieb  Schnider — Jonathan  Rahn — Ernest  Zittrauer — 
Joshua  and  Jacob  Helfenstein — Sufferings  of  the  Salzbur- 
gers during  the  war — Tories — Eichel  and  Martin  Dasher — 
Marauding  parties — Frederick  Helfenstein  and  his  two 
sons — General  Wayne — The  Salzburgers  forced  to  abandon 
their  homes — Sufferings  at  Ebenezer — Prisoners — Sergeants 
Jasper  and  Newton — Sacrilegious  act  of  the  British  toward 
the  church  at  Ebenezer — Other  acts  of  cruelty — Mistaken 
policy  of  the  British — Sad  influence  of  the  licentiousness 
of  the  British  troops  upon  the  morals  of  Ebenezer — Pastor 
Triebner — His  removal  to  England  and  death — General 
character  of  the  pastors  at  Ebenezer — Triebner  an  excep- 
tion— Dispensations  of  Providence — General  Wayne  at- 
tempts the  reduction  of  Savannah — British  troops  with- 
drawn from  Ebenezer— General  Wayne  makes  his  head- 


16  CONTENTS. 


quarters  there— British  evacuate  Savannah — Salzburgers 
return  to  Ebenezer — Scene  of  desolation — Condition  of 
the  church — Congregation  without  a  pastor — Petition  sent 
to  Germany — Dr.  Muhlenburg's  concern  for  the  Salzbur- 
gers — A  minister  visits  Ebenezer — Dr.  Muhlenburg's  let- 
ter— Vindication  of  Mr.  Triebner — Pastor  to  be  sent  in  the 
spring — Despondency  among  the  Salzburgers — Darkness 
begins  to  disappear — New  pastor  about  to  be  sent Page  201 

CHAPTER  XL 

The  arrival  of  a  pastor  anticipated — Solicitude  on  the  subject 
— The  Rev.  John  Earnest  Bergman  arrives  at  Ebenezer — 
His  early  history — His  qualifications  for  the  ministry — 
State  of  affairs  at  Ebenezer  and  Savannah — Mr.  Bergman's 
defects — Parochial  schools — Mr.  Bernhardt — Mr.  Probst — 
Mr.  Ernst — Increase  of  pastoral  labours — Church  in  Savan- 
nah— Letter  from  Mr.  Scheuber — Correct  views  of  the  sa- 
craments— Usages  of  the  Lutheran  Church — Mr.  Bergman's 
marriage — His  family — Mr.  Bergman  as  a  scholar — His 
correspondence — Parsonage  at  Ebenezer — Bishop  Francis 
Asbury — His  letter  to  Mr.  Bergman — Improvement  in  tem- 
poral affairs — Bad  habits  among  the  Salzburgers — Want 
of  church  discipline — Disaffection  toward  the  church — 
Members  withdraw — Ebenezer  Bridge — Ebenezer  becomes 
the  county  site — Effects  of  this  measure — County  site 
changed  to  Springfield — The  mills — Demand  for  English 
preaching — Letter  from  Bishop  Asbury — Mistaken  policy — 
Methodists  in  Savannah — Obligations  of  the  Methodists  to 
the  Lutheran  Church — Rev.  Hope  Hull — Jonathan  Jack- 
son— Josiah  Randle — John  Garvin — Rev.  S.  Dunwoody — 
First  Methodist  Society  in  Savannah — Mr.  Bergman  relin- 
quishes the  church  in  Savannah — Letter  to  Rev.  H.  Hol- 
combe — Savannah  church  without  a  pastor — Rev.  S.  A. 
Mealy — Salzburgers  in  other  churches — Jesse  Lee  visits 
Ebenezer — Mr.  Bergman  curtails  his  labours — "Bethel" 
church  erected — Personal  diflSculty — Letter  of  Rev.  J. 
McVean — Efforts    to    proselyte — Lax   state   of   morals — 


CONTENTS.  17 


Want  of  discipline — Mr.  Bergman's  grief  at  the  condition 
of  the  colony — External  prosperity — Spiritual  declension 
— Death  of  Mr?.  Neidlinger— Mr.  Bergman's  health  declines 
— His  death Page  218 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Gloomy  prospects  at  Ebenezer — Rev.  C.  F.  Bergman — His 
early  religious  sentiments — Calvinistic  tendency — Attends 
the  Georgia  Presbytery — Letter  to  Rev.  M.  Ranch — Con- 
flicting views — Becomes  a  member  of  Presbytery — Re- 
ceives a  call  to  St.  Matthew's  Lutheran  Church — Dr.  J. 
Bachman  visits  Savannah  and  Ebenezer — Interview  and 
correspondence  with  Mr.  Bergman — Mr.  Bergman  changes 
his  views,  joins  South  Carolina  Synod,  and  becomes  pastor 
at  Ebenezer — Ilis  piety  and  qualification  for  the  work — 
State  of  the  congregation — Methodist  and  Baptist  churches 
organized — Methodist  church  at  Goshen — Rev.  J.  0.  An- 
drew—  Delusion  —  A  false  Messiah  —  Strange  scene  at 
Goshen — Sad  results — Rev.  L.  Myers  locates  at  Goshen — 
His  character,  labours,  and  death — Temperance  movement 
at  Ebenezer — Mr.  Bergman  introduces  English  preaching — 
His  marriage — His  children — Temporal  and  spiritual  pros- 
perity— Emigration  of  Salzburgers  to  other  counties — 
Church  in  Savannah — Rev.  S.  A.  Mealy — Rev.  N.  Aldrich — 
New  church  in  Savannah — Rev.  A.  J.  Karn — German  con- 
gregation— Rev.  W.  Epping — Disaffection  at  Ebenezer — 
Other  churches  built  up  by  Salzburgers — Mr.  Bergman  as 
a  scholar — Trials — IndifiFereuco  to  education — Mr.  Berg- 
man's sickness  and  death — Rev.  J.  D.  Schenck — Rev.  E. 
A.  Bolles— Difficulties  at  Ebenezer— Rev.  P.  A.  Strobel— 
Death  of  Mrs.  Bergman— Rev.  E.  Kieffer— Rev.  G.  Halti- 
wanger — Rev.  J.  Austin — Present  condition  of  the  church 
—"  Father  Snider." 249 

CHAPTER  XIIL 

The  town  of  Ebenezer — Its  present  appearance — The  results 
of  this  experiment  at  colonization — The  colonies  in  New 


18  CONTENTS. 


England,  Virginia,  and  the  Carolinas — Royal  Historical 
Society  of  Austria — Inquiries  as  to  the  fate  of  the  Salzbur- 
gers  answered — Religious  and  social  influence  of  the  Salz- 
burgers  upon  the  other  colonists — Religious  sentiments  of 
the  first  pastors — Dr.  Hazelius's  testimony — Present  condi- 
tion and  pursuits  of  their  descendants — Effingham  county 
— General  reflections — Conclusion Pag^  278 


THE 


Sal^liurgtrs  aiiir  i\nx  ^tsmxhwls. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  causes  which  led  to  the  Colonization  of  America — French 
Colony  in  Florida — Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay — The  Puri- 
tans— Intolerance  of  the  Church  of  England — The  Salzburgers 
— Contrast  between  them  and  the  Puritans — Injustice  done  to 
the  former — The  Origin  of  the  Salzburgers — Their  Persecutions 
by  the  Dukes  of  Savoy — They  embrace  the  Doctrines  of  the 
Reformation — Cruelty  toward  their  Pastors — The  Valleys  of 
Teffereck — Their  Retreats  discovered — Miximilian  Gudolph — 
Salzburgers  before  the  Bishop's  Court  at  Hallein — Renewed 
Persecutions — Sympathy  of  Protestant  States — Elector  of  Bran- 
denburg— Corpus  Evangelicum — Return  of  the  Teffereckers — 
Duplicity  and  Treachery  of  the  Catholic  Authorities — Penalties 
imposed  on  the  Salzburgers — Banishment  and  Confiscation  of 
their  Estates — Severe  Sufferings  of  the  Exiles — Joseph  Schait- 
berger — Remarkable  Conversion  of  his  Daughter — Schaitberger 
as  an  Author — The  Confession  of  Faith — The  Salzburg  Emi- 
grant's Song — Persecution  under  Leopold — Archbishopric  of 
Salzburg— The  City  of  Salzburg— Thirty  Thousand  Protestants 
Exiled — Their  Reception  by  Protestant  States. 

The  colonial  history  of  our  country  derives 
much  of  its  interest  from  the  fact,  that  many  of 
the  early  settlers  were  those  who  had  been  ex- 
patriated for  conscience'  sake  and  were  brought 

19 


20  THE   SALZBURGERS 


hither  by  their  high  veneration  for  the  gospel. 
Forsaking  their  country  and  their  homes — sever- 
ing all  those  ties  which  bind  man  so  strongly  to 
the  place  of  his  nativity — abandoning  the  com- 
forts and  endearments  of  civilized  life,  they  came 
to  the  wilderness  of  America,  that  they  might 
enjoy  without  restraint  that  great  birthright  of 
the  immortal  mind — "freedom  to  worship  God" 
at  "a  faith's  pure  shrine." 

From  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  to  the  latter 
part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  companies  of 
emigrants  reached  our  shores  from  Great  Britain 
and  different  parts  of  continental  Europe,  who 
were  driven  hither  by  the  relentless  persecutions 
of  their  religious  adversaries.  It  is  well  known 
that  those  who  came  from  England  were  out- 
lawed by  the  bigotry  and  intolerance  of  the 
Established  Church.  By  the  act  of  Uniformity, 
passed  in  the  reign  of  Edward  VI.,  the  Church 
of  England  attempted  to  conform  the  opinions 
of  all  British  subjects,  as  well  as  their  modes  of 
worship,  to  her  Canons  and  Liturgy.  As  might 
have  been  expected,  these  efforts  to  enslave  the 
human  mind  and  shackle  the  conscience  were 
boldly  resisted,  and  hundreds  and  thousands 
preferred  imprisonment,  exile,  and  even  death, 
rather  than  endanger  their  spiritual  interests  by 
embracing  error,  or  submitting  their  wills  to 
"the  commandments  and  ordinances  of  men." 
Those  who  came  from  the  continent  of  Europe, 


AND    TIIEIll    DErfCEXDAZsTS.  21 


were  Protestunts,  who  had  embraced  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Reformation,  as  taught  by  Luther 
or  Calvin,  as  distinguished  from  the  doctrines 
of  the  Church  of  Rome,  and  who  were  conse- 
quently driven  into  exile,  by  the  proscriptive 
and  relentless  spirit,  which  has  always  charac- 
terized that  church. 

As  early  as  the  year  1564,  a  colony  of  Hu- 
guenots, or  French  Protestants,  was  planted  in 
Florida  by  John  Ribault,  under  the  patronage 
of  the  noble  and  philanthropic  Admiral  Coligny. 
The  cruel  sufferings  endured  by  these  devoted 
Christians  during  the  reign  of  the  imbecile 
Charles  IX.  and  his  perfidious  mother,  Cathe- 
rine de  Medicis,  compelled  them  to  forsake  the 
vine-clad  hills  and  the  beautiful  vales  of  France, 
to  seek  in  the  wilderness  of  the  West,  a  retreat 
from  the  sword  and  fagot  of  the  persecutor.  Of 
the  unhappy  fate  of  this  colony  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  speak,  further  than  to  remark,  that  it 
was  entirely  destroyed  in  1565  by  Pedro  Me- 
lendez,  the  inhuman  agent  of  the  bigoted 
Philip  II.  of  Spain,  who  murdered  all  the  colo- 
nists, and  completely  devastated  their  settlement. 

On  the  22d  of  December,  1620,  the  colony 
of  Massachusetts  was  commenced  by  the  land- 
ing of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  at  Plymouth  Rock. 
These  venerable  men,  as  is  well  known,  were 
from  England,  where,  by  their  rigid  virtues  and 
their  resistance  to  the  spiritual  domination  of 


22  THE   SALZBURGERS 


the  Established  Church,  they  had  acquired  the 
name  of  Puritans^  then  a  term  of  reproach,  but 
now  synonymous  with  unostentatious  piety,  ster- 
ling integrity,  and  uncompromising  opposition 
to  every  species  of  despotism ;  and  which  shall 
be  forever  identified  with  the  great  principles 
of  civil  and  religious  freedom.  By  asserting 
the  rights  of  conscience,  and  by  refusing  their 
assent  to  the  unjust  and  unreasonable  preten- 
sions set  up  by  the  Church  of  England  under 
the  sanction  of  the  British  parliament,  they  be- 
came obnoxious  to  the  displeasure  of  their  civil 
and  religious  rulers.  Arraigned  before  the 
Court  of  High  Commission,  the  Puritans  boldly 
asserted  the  principles  of  religious  toleration, 
and  claimed  the  free  exercise  of  their  judgment 
in  all  matters  of  faith.  But  in  the  liberal  views 
that  they  entertained,  they  were  too  far  in  ad- 
vance of  the  age  in  which  they  lived.  They 
were  consequently  condemned.  Hundreds  of 
their  ministers  were  deposed  and  deprived  of 
their  livings,  and  with  their  flocks,  sentenced 
to  imprisonment  and  the  loss  of  country,  and 
even  of  life. 

It  was  for  these  causes  and  under  these  cir- 
cumstances that  the  Pilgrims  quitted  the  shores 
of  England,  and  sought,  among  the  savages 
of  the  New  World,  the  free  exercise  of  those 
privileges  which  they  had  been  denied  in  the 
Old.     Nor  were   they  disappointed.     Infusing 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  23 


their  principles  into  all  their  institutions,  civil, 
political,  and  religious,  they  prepared  the  way 
for  the  establishment  of  that  great  fabric  of 
American  freedom,  which  is  now  the  pride  of 
their  posterity  and  the  admiration  of  the  civi- 
lized world.  And  by  the  influence  which  they 
exerted  in  shaping  the  destines  of  this  republic, 
they  have  erected  for  themselves  a  monument 
which  shall  be  coequal  with  our  national  ex- 
istence. 

Without  stopping  to  notice  other  colonies  of 
less  importance,  we  pass  on  to  the  one  which 
is  more  especially  the  subject  of  this  little 
volume.  We  allude  to  the  colony  of  Salzbur- 
gers,  which  was  planted  in  Georgia  in  1733. 
It  has  often  been  a  matter  of  surprise,  that  so 
little  notice  has  been  taken  of  this  colony  in 
the  various  histories  of  our  country  which  have 
been  published  from  time  to  time.  Like  the  Pil- 
grim Fathers,  the  Salzburgers  were  the  victims 
of  religious  persecution:  like  them  they  were 
driven  from  their  country  and  their  homes  on 
account  of  their  unwavering  attachment  to  the 
principles  of  the  gospel ;  and  there  is  a  striking 
parellel  in  their  characters  and  their  early  his- 
tory. If  the  Puritans  could  boast  of  the  vene- 
rable Robinson,  as  their  pastor,  the  Salzburgers 
could  point  to  their  Bolzius  and  Gronau.  If 
the  Puritans  were  proud  of  Brewster  and  Car- 
ver, of  Bradford,   and  Winslow,  and  Standish, 


24  THE    SALZBURG ER? 


the  Salzburgers  had  their  Yon  Reck,  and  Vatt, 
and  Hermsdorf,  and  Dreisler,  all  men  of  mark, 
and  who,  in  point  of  energy,  firmness  of  princi- 
ple, powers  of  endurance,  and  upright  and  con- 
sistent character,  would  compare  favourably  with 
any  of  the  fathers  of  New  England.  But  while 
the  story  of  the  Pilgrims  has  been  a  fruitful 
theme  for  the  historian  and  the  poet,  the  Salz- 
burgers have  either  been  entirely  overlooked,  or 
their  history  has  been  sketched  very  hastily  and 
unsatisfactorily.  This  may  be  owing,  in  a  mea- 
sure, to  the  comparatively  secluded  spot  which 
they  selected  for  their  settlement,  together  with 
the  quietness  and  unobtrusiveness  of  their  cha- 
racter. Beside  which,  the  prevalence  of  the 
German  language  among  them,  the  little  inter- 
course which  they  cultivated  with  their  English 
neighbours,  and  the  preservation  of  their  records 
in  their  native  language,  have  no  doubt  all 
tended  to  obscure  them,  and  deprive  them  of 
that  position  in  the  annals  of  our  country  to 
which  their  sufferings,  their  virtues,  and  their 
influence  so  justly  entitle  them. 

The  most  satisfactory  accounts  of  this  inte- 
resting people  which  have  been  published  in 
this  country,  are  to  be  found  in  the  collections 
of  the  Georgia  Historical  Society,  Bancroft's 
History  of  the  United  States,  Dr.  Hazelius' 
History  of  the  American  Lutheran  Church,  and 
Dr.   Steven's  History  of  Georgia.     But  while 


AND    TIIEir.    DESCENDANTS.  25 


these  authors  have  done  much  to  rescue  the 
Salzburgers  from  the  obscurity  into  which  they 
had  been  permitted  to  pass,  it  was  not  to  have 
been  expected,  from  the  very  character  of  these 
publications,  that  ample  justice  could  have  been 
done  to  the  subject. 

In  attempting  a  particular  history  of  the 
Salzburgers,  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  work 
is  attended  with  difficulty.  Many  of  their  re- 
cords have  been  lost  or  destroyed,  and  those 
which  have  been  preserved  are  so  voluminous, 
and  at  the  same  time  comprise  so  much  matter 
that  is  of  very  little  historical  importance,  that 
it  would  require  months,  if  not  years,  of  patient 
research  to  investigate  them  thoroughly.  All 
that  we  shall  aim  at,  therefore,  will  be,  to  notice 
briefly  the  origin  of  the  Salzburgers,  and  the 
immediate  causes  which  led  to  the  planting  of 
the  colony  in  Georgia,  with  an  account  of  their 
settlement  at  Ebenezer,  and  so  much  of  their 
subsequent  history  as  may  be  deemed  of  general 
interest. 

The  Salzburgers  were  descended  from  the 
Yallenses,  a  name  derived  from  the  Alpine 
valleys  of  Piedmont,  and  which  was  applied  to 
all  who  had  emigrated  into  that  region,  espe- 
cially from  the  East.  The  Vallenses  had,  for 
several  centuries  prior  to  the  Reformation,  op- 
posed the  corruptions  of  the  Church  of  Rome, 
and   had   consequently   exposed   themselves   to 


26  THE   SALZBURGERS 


severe  persecutions,  especially  at  the  Lands  of 
the  Dukes  of  Savoy,  Avho  waged  against  them  a 
war  of  extermination.  We  may  properly  enu- 
merate in  their  history  ten  bloody  persecutions, 
from  the  establishment  of  their  church  in  the 
commencement  of  the  fifteenth  century,  until 
their  exodus,  which  occurred  toward  the  middle 
of  the  eighteenth  century.  To  escape  the  dan- 
gers to  which  they  were  exposed,  and  to  enjoy 
the  free  exercise  of  their  religion,  they  were 
compelled  to  secrete  themselves  in  the  most  in- 
accessible mountains  of  Dauphine  in  France, 
and  the  Alps  of  Switzerland  and  the  Tyrol. 
Here,  in  their  mountain  retreats,  secluded  from 
the  enjoyments  of  more  civilized  life,  amid  the 
wild  majesty  and  grandeur  of  nature,  they  woi'- 
shipped  God  in  the  true  simplicity  of  the  gos- 
pel, holding  communion  with  Him,  "  who  prefers 
above  all  temples  the  upright  heart  and  pure;" 
and  acquiring  continually,  by  a  faithful  improve- 
ment of  their  advantages,  a  fitness  for  that  king- 
dom where  the  foot  of  the  oppressor  shall  never 
enter,  and  the  conflicts  of  the  faithful  shall  end 
in  everlasting  peace  and  glory. 

Nor  were  they  content  in  seeking  their  own 
improvement:  embarrassing  as  their  circum- 
stances no  doubt  were,  they  felt  that  it  was 
their  duty  to  embrace  every  opportunity  to  im- 
part to  others  those  religious  truths  which  they 
had  derived  from  the  sacred  Scriptures.    Hence, 


AND   TIIKIR    DESCENDANTS. 


as  far  as  their  situation  would  permit,  they 
were  constantly  engaged  in  efforts  to  dissemi- 
nate the  doctrines  of  Christianity  among  the 
untutored  inhabitants  of  those  mountainous  re- 
gions. And  their  labour  of  love  was  not  in 
vain ;  for  through  their  instructions,  and  more 
especially  by  the  purity  of  their  lives,  hundreds 
were  won  to  the  cause  of  truth. 

But  this  favourable  state  of  things,  which  had 
continued  for  many  years,  w^as  interrupted  in 
the  commencement  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
The  doctrines  of  the  Reformation,  as  taught  by 
Luther  and  Calvin,  having  been  proclaimed 
throughout  Europe,  found  their  way  to  the  re- 
treats of  these  devoted  Christians  ;  and  panting, 
as  they  no  doubt  did,  for  clearer  views  of  reli- 
gious truth,  they  readily  embraced  the  doctrines 
of  the  reformed  faith,  and  identified  themselves 
wuth  the  friends  of  evangelical  religion.  When, 
therefore,  the  Church  of  Rome  determined  to 
stop  the  progress  of  the  Reformation,  by  perse- 
cuting and  if  need  be,  by  exterminating  all  who 
favoured  it,  these  devoted  people  again  became 
the  subjects  of  Popish  superstition  and  rage. 
They  were  hunted  like  wild  beasts  by  the  emis- 
saries of  Rome,  and  made  to  suffer  every  cruelty 
and  indignity  which  the  malice  of  man  could 
possibly  devise.  One  of  their  ministers,  An- 
thony Brassus,  was  decapitated,  and,  as  if  to  add 
insult  to  injury,  his  head  was  nailed  to  his  pul- 


28  THE    SALZBURGERS 


pit;  others  were  scourged  mth  such  severity  that 
they  expired  at  the  whipping-post;  and  every 
pastor  who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  priests  was 
put  to  death  under  the  most  revolting  circum- 
stances. Nor  were  the  lay  members  of  these 
churches  more  fortunate  than  their  spiritual 
shepherds.  Some  were  blown  up  with  gunpowder, 
others  were  driven  into  barns  and  houses,  and 
suffocated,  or  made  to  perish  amid  the  flames 
of  their  own  dwellings.  Neither  age  nor  sex 
procured  exemption  from  the  cruelties  of  these 
inhuman  monsters;  and  nothing  but  the  provi- 
dential escape  of  a  small  number,  saved  this  en- 
tire people  from  extermination. 

Those  who  survived  this  persecution  retreated 
into  the  secluded  valleys  of  Teffereck.  Here 
they  remained  undisturbed,  maintaining  their 
religious  principles  amid  great  poverty  and 
distress,  but  still  with  unshaken  confidence 
in  God,  though  they  knew  not  how  soon  they 
would  be  exposed  to  new  forms  of  cruelty  and 
death.  At  the  expiration  of  about  seventy 
years,  (during  which  time  Protestantism  was 
supposed  to  be  extinct  in  the  Archbishopric  of 
Salzburg,)  a  whole  congregation  of  Christians 
was  discoved  to  exist,  and  it  was  ascertained 
that  it  had  maintained  its  organization  and  regu- 
lar worship  for  more  than  half  a  century.  Tef- 
fereck is  a  valley  of  Salzburg,  on  the  borders 
of  the  Tyrol,  in  the  district  called  Windisch- 


AXD    TIIEin    DEcCEXDANTS.  20 


Matrey;  and  in  its  solitudes  and  in  the  depths 
and  darkness  of  its  ravines,  true  faith  seemed 
long  to  have  found  a  safe  retreat.  The  people 
had  no  minister  or  public  instructor  of  any  kind, 
but  met  together  by  night,  in  thick  forests,  or 
in  the  mines  for  mutual  edification,  by  singing 
and  prayer ;  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  Luther's 
and  Spangenberg's  sermons,  the  Augsburg  Con- 
fession, the  Shorter  Catechism,  and  other  good 
books.  These  were  carefully  perused  in  the 
families  of  such  as  could  read,  and  the  doctrines 
■which  they  inculcated  were  communicated  to 
their  children  and  more  intimate  associates.  In 
public,  they  occasionally  attended  the  services 
of  the  Romish  Church  and  partook  of  the  Sacra- 
ment, but  they  were  still  regarded  with  suspi- 
cion by  the  public  authorities,  and  were  stigma- 
tized by  the  priests  as  "Secret  Lutherans."  Still 
they  continued  for  a  long  time  to  enjoy  some- 
thing like  peace.  But  as  their  numbers  in- 
creased, they  began  to  be  watched  more  carefully, 
and  the  appointment  for  that  suffragan  of  a 
priest  who  had  been  educated  by  the  Jesuits, 
finally  brought  matters  to  a  crisis.  This  man 
was  exceedingly  haughty  and  violent,  and  fre- 
quently denounced  the  pure  doctrines  of  the 
gospel,  which  he  suspected  that  these  people  had 
embraced.  Hence  their  attendance  at  church 
became  less  and  less  frequent,  and  some  of  them, 
when  there,  arose  and  left  the  house  when  they 


80  THE   SALZBURGERS 


heard  what  they  regarded  as  the  most  essential 
truths  of  Christianity  misrepresented  and  blas- 
phemed. The  reigning  bishop,  Maximilian 
Gaudolph  was  speedily  informed  of  the  state 
of  things,  and  he  immediately  cited  two  of 
their  number  before  his  court  at  Hallein.  Upon 
appearing  in  his  presence,  he  asked  where 
their  Lutheran  books  were,  and  demanded  to 
know  why  they  did  not  attend  confession  and 
mass  ?  Upon  honestly  confessing  their  senti- 
ments, they  were  thrown  into  prison  and  put 
into  chains.  During  three  days'  confinement 
they  were  treated  with  the  utmost  severity,  after 
which  they  were  conveyed  to  Salzburg,  to  be  ex- 
amined before  a  higher  court.  Here  they  were 
again  asked  whether  they  were  Lutherans  or 
Papists ;  and  upon  their  answering  that  they 
believed  the  Lutheran  doctrines  to  be  clearly 
founded  upon  the  gospel,  they  were  again  im- 
prisoned for  fifty  days.  While  in  prison  two  old 
Capuchin  monks  were  sent  to  convert  them,  but 
these  priestly  confessors  could  not  shake  their 
faith,  being  themselves  discomfited  by  the  apt 
quotations  that  these  humble  Christians  made 
from  the  sacred  Scriptures.  Reason,  or  rather 
sophistry,  failing  to  make  any  impression,  resort 
was  had  to  torture  and  the  most  terrible  threat- 
enings ;  but  these  witnesses  for  the  truth  re- 
mained firm.  At  length,  they  were  required  to 
furnish  the  archbishop  with  a  written  confession 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  Si 


of  their  faith.  With  this  demand  they  cheer- 
fully complied,  and  accompanied  their  confession 
with  a  very  humble  petition,  that  the}^  might 
either  be  tolerated  in  their  native  land,  or  al- 
lowed to  depart  from  it  with  their  wives  and  chil- 
dren. This  confession  was  drawn  up  by  Joseph 
Schaitberger,  a  poor  miner,  who  had  enjoyed  no 
opportunities  of  education  out  of  his  own  family, 
but  it  is  in  all  respects  a  remarkable  document. 
It  commences  thus : — "  Most  noble  Prince,  our 
most  gracious  Lord :  Those  are  truly  strong  and 
terrible  words,  which  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  him- 
self has  spoken  to  hypocritical  Christians,  vfho 
deny  their  faith  before  the  world,  when  he  says : 
*He  that  is  ashamed  of  me  and  denies  me  be- 
fore men,  of  him  will  I  be  ashamed,  and  will 
deny  him  before  my  Father  and  the  holy 
angels.'  Luke  ix.  and  Matt.  x.  These  words, 
may  it  please  your  princely  grace,  move  us  not 
to  deny  our  faith  before  men,  lest  we  should 
prove  to  be  hypocrites  in  the  sight  of  God  and 
of  men,  which  may  God  prevent."  They  then 
proceed  to  say,  that  his  highness  must  be  aware, 
that  they  had  always  conducted  themselves  as 
dutiful  subjects,  but  that  as  regarded  things 
spiritual,  they  felt  themselves  bound  to  obey 
God,  rather  than  man ;  and  while  ''  rendering 
unto  Caesar  the  things  that  are  Caesar's,  to 
render  unto  God  the  things  that  are  God's."  In 
reference,  therefore,  to  the  two  points  on  which 


32  THE   SALZBURGER; 


tliey  were  specifically  interrogated,  viz.  the  wor- 
ship of  saints  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  they  would 
express  themselves  as  simply  as  they  could,  in 
explanation  of  "what  they  believed  to  be  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  plain  teachings  of  the  word 
of  God.  In  doing  this,  they  very  clearly  an- 
nounced their  faith  in  the  great  doctrines  of 
Christianity,  especially  the  doctrine  of  justifica- 
tion by  faith  alone;  and  occasionally  refer  to  the 
Augsburg  Confession  and  declare  their  agree- 
ment with  its  teachings.  In  reference  to  the 
Lord's  Supper,  they  thus  expressed  themselves : 
"As  it  regards  the  Holy  Supper  and  Testament 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  it  rests  most  heavily 
upon  our  hearts  and  consciences,  in  view  of  our 
soul's  salvation,  as  one  of  our  highest  duties. 
But  that  we  have  not  hitherto  drank,  according 
to  Christ's  command,  the  blood  of  Christ  in  the 
cup,  this  we  and  our  forefathers  have  ever 
lamented,  for  it  is  indeed  written,  'Drink  ye 
all  of  it,'  that  is  not  only  priests,  but  all  men. 
Matt,  xxvi." 

The  result  of  this  confession  was  a  universal 
persecution  of  all,  who  were  even  suspected  of 
having  embraced  these  ''heretical"  views.  They 
were  refused  employment,  and  their  property 
was  all  taken  from  them.  Their  books  were 
seized  whenever  found,  and  either  torn  or  burnt. 
They  were  put  to  hard  labour  upon  bread  and 
water  for  fourteen  days,  and  then  required  to 


AND    TIIEIIl    DESCENDANTS.  33 


recant.  Some  few  were  subdued  by  these  cruel- 
ties, and  such  were  required  to  renounce  Luthe- 
ranism,  as  a  new  and  damnable  heresy,  and  pro- 
fess their  faith  in  all  the  doctrines  of  the  papacy, 
such  as  the  mass,  the  intercession  of  the  Virgin 
Mary  and  other  saints,  the  sufficiency  of  the 
sacraments  under  one  form,  purgatory,  &;c. 
Others  endeavoured  to  flee,  with  their  wives  and 
children  in  the  dead  of  winter,  and  left  all 
their  earthly  possessions  behind.  But  not  even 
this  privilege  was  accorded  to  them  by  their  re- 
lentless persecutors.  Their  children  were  taken 
from  them,  under  the  pretence  of  givfng  them 
religious  instruction.  From  one  thousand  pa- 
rents who  were  driven  from  their  country  during 
the  years  1684  to  1686,  not  less  than  six  hun- 
dred children  are  said  to  have  been  taken.  The 
accounts  given  by  the  fugitives  of  the  indigni- 
ties and  cruelties  to  which  they  had  been  sub- 
jected, finally  excited  the  sympathy  of  those 
Protestant  princes  in  whose  territories  they  had 
sought  for  refuge.  About  the  commencement 
of  the  year  1685,  Fredrick  William,  Elector  of 
Brandenburg,  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Salzburg,  in  which  he  mildly  remon- 
strated against  these  proceedings,  and  expressed 
the  hope  that  they  were  unauthorized  by  his 
grace,  especially  as  they  were  in  direct  violation 
of  the  peace  of  Westphalia.  He  also  intimated, 
that  in  the  absence  of  every  other  consideration, 


84  THE    SALZBURGERS 


prudence  alone  would  dictate  another  course,  as 
Protestant  states  might  become  so  incensed  by 
such  conduct  as  to  retaliate  upon  their  Roman 
Catholic  subjects.  In  June  of  the  same  year, 
the  evangelical  representatives,  (Corpus  Evan- 
gelicum,)  assembled  at  Regensburg,  also  ad- 
dressed a  remonstrance  to  the  archbishop,  who 
replied,  that  these  people  were  neither  Lutheran 
nor  Reformed,  and  consequently  could  not  claim 
the  benefits  of  the  treaty  of  Westphalia.  But 
the  evangelical  body  reiterating  their  demands 
early  in  the  following  year,  and  claiming  these 
exiles  as  their  brethren  in  a  common  faith,  the 
episcopal  government  had  no  longer  any  pre- 
text for  their  violent  and  illegal  conduct,  and 
the  Catholic  authorities  agreed  to  restore  to  the 
Protestants  their  children  and  their  rights  of 
property.  Filled  with  joy  and  holy  gratitude, 
a  number  of  the  TefFereckers  hastened  to  their 
once  happy  valley,  provided  with  every  thing 
which  was  regarded  as  necessary  to  establish 
their  rights  as  parents  and  citizens.  Great, 
however,  was  their  surprise,  when  the  Salzburg 
magistrate,  Wolj0f  Adam,  to  whom  they  reported 
themselves,  without  giving  them  an  audience, 
thus  addressed  them:  "What  are  you  doing 
here,  you  Lutheran  dogs  ?  Where  are  your  pass- 
ports ?"  These  being  produced,  he  continued 
his  revilings  while  he  sent  for  a  priest  to  assist 
in   their  examination.     Upon  his   arrival  their 


A-SD    THEIR   DESCEXDANT.S.  35 


packs  were  searched,  and  all  their  books  taken 
from  them,  with  this  remark,  "  When  we  have 
our  baking  done,  we  will  use  these  books  to  heat 
the  oven."  That  night  these  devoted  Christians 
were  kept  in  prison  under  a  guard  of  twenty 
soldiers,  and  the  next  morning  they  were  ordered 
to  pay  a  fine  o^  thirttf-f our  florins.  Upon  their 
demurring  to  do  so,  they  were  threatened  with 
additional  cruelties,  until  one  of  their  number 
gave  an  order  for  the  amount,  to  be  raised  from 
his  property  in  the  valley,  upon  which  a  guard 
conducted  them  over  the  frontier,  and  warned 
them  never  again  to  attempt  to  enter  the  country. 
Representations  were  duly  made  to  the  arch- 
bishop in  relation  to  the  conduct  of  his  subordi- 
nates and  an  examination  was  professedly  made, 
but  the  accused  party  escaped  with  a  light  repri- 
mand. Finally,  the  archbishop  endeavoured 
to  extricate  himself  from  all  censure,  by  alleging 
that  the  valley  of  Teffereck  was  not  under  his 
jurisdiction,  but  a  part  of  the  Tyrol,  and  so  sub- 
ject to  the  Emperor  of  Austria.  All  represen- 
tations made  to  the  Imperial  court  were  equally 
unavailing ;  and  thus  these  poor  people  were 
stripped  of  all  their  earthly  possessions.  Nor 
was  this  all.  Their  wives  and  children  were 
vrrested  from  them,  except  when  they  succeeded 
in  penetrating  the  country,  and,  despite  the  vigi- 
lance of  the  guards,  carried  off  sometimes  a 
wife,  sometimes  a  child,   or  perhaps  in  a  few 


86'  THE    SALZBURGERS 


cases,  their  whole  family.  During  all  this  time, 
their  sufferings  were  indescribable.  Driven  from 
their  homes,  they  had  no  place  of  shelter.  De- 
prived of  all  employment,  they  were  destitute 
of  the  means  of  providing  the  necessaries  of  life. 
Going  forth  in  the  dead  of  winter,  they  suffered 
incredibly  from  cold  and  hunger,  so  that  many, 
after  reaching  some  Protestant  state,  perished 
from  exhaustion.  Still  more  melancholy  was 
the  fate  of  those  from  whom  their  children  were 
torn,  and  given  into  the  hands  of  their  bitterest 
enemies,  to  be  trained  up  under  the  most  dan- 
gerous and  ruinous  errors. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  of  these  sufferers 
was  Joseph  Schaitherger^  to  whom  reference  has 
already  been  made  as  the  author  of  the  Confes- 
sion of  Faith,  which  was  presented  to  the  arch- 
bishop. He  was  born  on  the  18th  of  March, 
1658,  at  Diirenburg,  in  the  district  of  Hallein, 
about  two  German  miles  from  the  city  of  Salz- 
burg. His  parents  were  both  pious  and  decid- 
edly attached  to  the  evangelical  faith,  in  which 
he  was  carefully  educated.  Being  early  taught 
to  read  by  his  brother,  (who  was  a  schoolmaster,) 
he  soon  manifested  the  deepest  love  for  the 
sacred  Scriptures,  so  that,  like  the  Psalmist,  he 
"meditated  in  them  by  day  and  by  night,"  and 
consequently  became  intimately  acquainted  with 
them.  He  was  condemned  by  the  archbishop's 
court  as  a  heretic,  and  his  two  daughters  taken 


AND    TIIKIR    DESCENDANTS.  37 


from  him.  lie  returned  twice  to  recover  them, 
but  never  succeeded.  One  of  them,  however, 
was  finally  restored  to  him  in  a  most  remarkable 
manner.  Educated  as  a  most  zealous  and  bigot- 
ed Catholic,  she  had  been  taun:;ht  to  recjard  her 
father  as  a  heretic,  for  whom  there  was  no  hope 
of  salvation.  When  she  had  grown  up,  and  was 
married,  she  became  so  interested  in  his  eternal 
welfare  as  to  make  a  journey  to  Nuremberg, 
where  he  was  then  residing,  for  the  purpose  of 
attempting  his  conversion.  Her  filial  piety  was 
rewarded ;  for  the  conversations  with  her  father 
were  so  blessed  to  her,  that  she  became  a  con- 
vert to  the  true  faith,  and  after  vainly  attempt- 
ing to  induce  her  husband  to  follow  her  ex- 
ample, she  spent  the  rest  of  her  life,  a  voluntary 
exile,  in  Nuremburg,  knowing  that  she  would  not 
be  allowed  to  exercise  her  religion  in  Salzburg. 

After  his  banishment,  Schaitberger  at  first 
supported  himself  by  cutting  wood  and  other 
severe  manual  labour  in  the  city  in  which  he 
had  taken  refuge.  But  his  zeal  for  religion 
knew  no  abatement,  and  he  devoted  himself 
to  the  spiritual  interests  of  his  countr^^men, 
especially  those  whom  he  had  left  behind  in 
Salzburg. 

Besides  visiting  them  on  various  occasions,  he 
wrote  letters  and  religious  tracts  for  their  instruc- 
tion and  edification,  and  poured  forth  his  devout 
feelings  in  hymns  admirably  adapted  to  their 


HS  THE   SALZBURGERS 


circumstances.  The  influence  of  these  simple 
productions,  though  for  a  long  time  circulated  in 
manuscript,  appears  to  have  been  very  extraordi- 
nary. It  is  not  known  at  what  time  they  were 
first  printed,  but  it  was  certainly  some  years 
after  their  good  effects  became  manifest.  They 
were,  however,  at  length  collected  into  a  small 
volume,  which  was  eagerly  sought  by  the  vast 
body  of  Protestants,  who  seemed  suddenly  to 
spring  up  from  the  soil  out  of  which,  it  was  sup- 
posed, that  every  germ  of  evangelical  truth  had 
been  eradicated.  As  that  immense  body  of 
martyrs  wended  their  way  to  Prussia  and  other 
parts  of  Protestant  Germany,  and  even  to  Holland 
and  America,  they  were  everywhere  heard  singing 
his  simple  hymns,  especially  that  which  was  call- 
ed "The  Exile's  Hymn,"  a  translation  of  which 
is  here  appended.  We  are  indebted  for  this 
translation,  as  well  as  much  of  the  information 
in  regard  to  Schaitberger,  to  Dr.  Reynolds,  Pre- 
sident of  Capitol  University,  Columbus,  (Ohio.) 
Schaitberger  lived  to  see  this  great  work  of  re- 
vival in  Salzburg,  as  he  died  at  Nuremburg, 
toward  the  close  of  1733.  His  last  years  were 
rendered  comfortable  by  the  provision  made  for 
him  by  the  magistrate  of  the  city,  to  whom  he 
had  so  strongly  recommended  himself  by  his 
unblemished  life. 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  39 


THE  SALZBURG  EMIGRANT'S  SONG. 


I  AM  a  wretched  exile  here — 
Thus  must  my  name  be  given — 

From  native  land  and  all's  that  dear, 
For  God's  word,  I  am  driven. 


Full  well  I  know,  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
Thy  treatment  was  no  better : 

Thy  follower  I  now  will  be  ; 
To  do  thy  will  I'm  debtor. 


Henceforth,  a  pilgrim  I  must  be. 
In  foreign  climes  must  wander; 

0  Lord !  my  prayer  ascends  to  theo, 
That  thou  my  path  will  ponder. 


0  faithful  God  !  be  thou  my  stay ; 

I  give  me  to  thy  keeping ; 
Forsake  me  not  in  this  my  day, 

Nor  when  in  death  I'm  sleeping. 


Thy  faith  I  freely  have  confessed  : 
Dare  I  deny  it  ?     Never  ! 

Not  though  they  call  me  "heretic," 
And  soul  and  body  sever. 


My  ornament,  the  galling  chain  ; 

For  Jesus'  sake  I  wear  it, 
And  scarcely  feel  its  weight  or  pain, 

^Vhil©  in  his  faith  I  bear  it. 


40  THE    SALZBUIlGEllS 


Though  Satan  and  the  world  conspire 
To  seize  each  earthly  treasure, 

If  in  my  heart  true  faith  but  dwell, 
I'm  rich  beyond  all  measure. 


Thy  will,  0  God  !  be  done  !     May  I 
Still  cheerfully  obey  thee  ! 

And  may  thy  arm  of  power  and  love 
Encompass  still,  and  stay  me ! 

IX. 

Though  I  go  forth  to  poverty, 
For  Christ's  sake,  I  am  going, 

And  see  in  heaven,  reserved  for  me, 
A  crown  with  glory  glowing. 


Forth  from  my  home  I  now  must  go  : 
My  children  !     Must  I  leave  them  ? 

0  God !  my  tears  in  anguish  flow — 
Shall  I  no  more  receive  them  ? 

XI. 

My  God  conduct  me  to  a  place, 

Though  in  some  distant  nation. 
Where  I  may  have  thy  glorious  word, 

And  learn  thy  great  salvation. 

XII. 

And  though  in  this  dark  vale  of  tears 
I  yet  awhile  must  tarry, 

1  know  that  thou  to  heaven,  at  length, 
My  ransomed  soul  will  carry ! 

We  come   now  to  speak  of  the    persecution 
wliich  brought  those  emigrants  to  America  who 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  41 


are  more  especially  the  subjects  of  this  narra- 
tive. For  forty  years  the  persecuted  Protest- 
ants who  resided  in  the  glens  and  fastnesses  of 
the  Alps  had  been  permitted  to  enjoy  their  re- 
ligion in  comparative  quiet.  But,  as  we  have 
intimated,  their  doctrines  were  spreading  with 
too  much  rapidity,  and  it  was  therefore  deemed 
necessary,  to  interpose  the  strong  arm  of  civil 
power  to  arrest  their  further  progress.  This 
persecution,  which  was  the  most  cruel  and  ex- 
tensive of  any  that  preceded  it,  was  begun  at 
the  instance  and  under  the  direction  of  Leopold, 
Count  of  Firmain  and  Archbishop  of  Salzburg, 
who,  having  discovered  that  many  of  his  subjects 
had  renounced  the  religion  of  Rome,  determined 
either  to  reduce  them  to  submission  or  to  extir- 
pate them  from  his  dominions. 

The  Archbishopric  of  Salzburg  comprised  at 
this  time,  the  Suffragans  of  Friessingen,  Ratis- 
bon,  Passau,  Chiemre,  Seckau,  Lavant,  Briscen, 
Gurk,  and  Neustadt,  and  contained,  according  to 
some  authorities,  a  population  of  not  less  than 
150,000  souls.  We  cannot  ascertain  exactly  what 
was  the  proportion  of  Protestants  within  its  juris- 
diction, but  it  must  have  been  considerable,  if 
we  may  judge  from  the  large  numbers  who 
were  compelled  to  seek  a  place  of  safety  in  other 
countries.  This  archbishopric  was  then  the 
most  eastern  district  of  Bavaria,  but  now  forms 
a  detached  province  in  Upper  Austria.  It  ia 
4* 


42  THE   SALZBURGERS 


called  Salzburg,  from  the  broad  valley  of  the 
Salza,  which  is  made  by  the  approximating  of 
the  Norric  and  Rhetian  Alps.  All  who  resided 
in  this  region  were  consequently  denominated 
Salzburgers. 

Salzburg  is  the  principal  city  in  this  district, 
and  as  a  matter  of  history  it  may  not  be  inap- 
propriate to  remark,  that  it  is  a  place  of  great 
antiquity.  It  was  destroyed  by  Attila  in  the 
year  448,  but  was  afterward  rebuilt  by  the  Ba- 
varian dukes,  at  the  request  of  St.  Rupert.  It 
w^as  the  birthplace  of  the  famous  Paracelsus, 
and  here  his  ashes  repose.  It  contains  the  re- 
mains of  the  ancient  Roman  baths,  from  which 
many  valuable  antiquities  have  been  obtained. 
The  population  is  estimated  at  15,000.  It  is 
the  only  fortress  in  Upper  Austria. 

Returning  from  this  short  digression,  we  re- 
mark that  the  persecution  under  Leopold  com- 
menced in  1729,  and  continued  with  unabated 
violence  until  1732.  The  objects  of  his  rage 
were  sought  out  and  pursued  by  the  priests  and 
soldiery  of  Rome,  and  experienced  every  species 
of  outrage  which  an  unbridled  fanaticism  could 
suggest.  Resort  was  had  to  whipping  and  im- 
prisonment, and  when  these  failed  the  unhappy 
victims  were  murdered  or  banished,  and  their 
property  confiscated.  All  the  natural  and  sacred 
ties  of  life  were  disregarded.  Husbands  and 
wives  were  separated.     Children  were  torn  from 


AND   THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  43 


the  embraces  of  their  parents,  and  forced  into 
monasteries  for  education  in  the  Romish  faith. 
During  this  persecution  upward  of  thirty  thou- 
sand Protestants  were  exiled,  and  compelled  to 
seek  for  safety  and  peace  among -their  Protestant 
brethren.  Nor  were  the  hearts  of  those  brethren 
closed  against  them.  Twenty  thousand  were 
received  in  the  Prussian  dominions,  and  many 
of  them  took  up  their  abode  in  Wurtemburg, 
Baden,  the  city  of  Augsburg,  and  other  free 
cities  of  Swabia.  Some  also  emigrated  to  Hol- 
land and  England,  where  they  were  received 
with  kindness  and  Christian  sympathy,  and 
every  effort  made  to  relieve  their  wants  and 
mitigate  their  sufferings.  Though  persecuted, 
they  were  not  forsaken.  Though  they  were 
forced  to  wander  about  as  outcasts  from  the 
land  of  their  nativity,  yet  God  was  with  them, 
and  in  the  course  of  his  providence  was  prepar- 
ing the  way,  for  their  permanent  escape  from 
spiritual  despotism,  and  was  about  to  transplant 
some  of  them  at  least,  to  a  better  country ; 
where,  freed  from  the  fear  of  man,  they  could 
worship  Him  without  molestation,  and  under  cir- 
cumstances far  more  favourable,  than  any  in 
which  they  had  been  placed  in  their  much-loved 
fatherland. 


44  THE   SALZBURGERS 


CHAPTER  11. 

Charter  granted  by  Charles  11.  to  the  Trustees  for  establishing  the 
colony  of  Georgia — The  design  of  the  colony — General  Ogle- 
thorpe— English  settlers  arrive  at  Savannah — "  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  Christian  Knowledge" — Interest  on  behalf  of 
the  Salzburgers — Arrangements  to  remove  the  Salzburgers  to 
Georgia — Fifty  families  engaged  for  the  first  transportation — 
Provision  made  by  the  "  Society" — Liberality  of  the  "Trustees" 
— First  company  of  emigrants — Love  of  country — Departure 
from  their  homes— Incidents  of  their  journey — The  city  of 
Augsburg — Hospitalities  extended  to  the  Salzburgers — Recom- 
mence their  travels — Rev.  S.  Ui-lsperger — Effects  of  the  sojourn 
of  the  Salzburgers  at  Augsburg — Revival  of  religion — Further 
incidents — Arrival  at  the  city  of  Frankfort — Conduct  of  the 
Burgers — Procession — Entrance  into  the  city — Hospitality  of 
the  inhabitants — Departure  from  Frankfort — The  Maine  and 
Rhine — Arrival  at  Rotterdam — Rev.  Messrs.  Bolzius  and  Gro- 
nau — Departure  from  Rotterdam — Arrival  at  Dover,  in  England 
— Impressions  made  by  the  emigrants  on  their  English  benefac- 
tors— Preparations  for  leaving  England — Departure  of  the 
Purisburg,  first  ship  with  German  emigrants, 

While  the  scenes  recorded  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  pre\dous  chapter  were  transpiring,  events 
were  occurring  in  England,  which  in  the  provi- 
dence of  God,  were  destined  to  result  in  lasting 
benefits  to  the  Salzburgers.  In  1732,  a  charter 
was  granted  by  Charles  II.  to  twenty- one  noble- 
men  and   gentlemen   in   England,   constituting 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  45 


them  a  body  corporate,  by  the  name  of,  "  The 
Trustees  for  establishing  the  Colony  of  Georgia, 
in  America."  The  design  of  this  enterprise,  as 
stated  by  the  trustees  themselves,  was  not  only 
to  provide  a  home  and  the  means  of  subsistence 
for  the  indigent  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain, 
but  also  to  furnish  "  a  refuge  for  the  distressed 
Salzburgers  and  other  Protestants."  This  colony 
was  planted  by  General  James  Oglethorpe,  who 
arrived  in  Georgia,  with  the  first  company  of 
English  settlers,  on  the  20th  of  January,  1733, 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  city  of  Savannah. 
No  sooner  was  this  corporation  organized  and 
its  objects  made  known,  than  the  '<  Society  for 
the  Propagation  of  Christian  Knowledge"  began 
to  interest  itself  for  the  removal  of  some  of  the 
Salzburgers  to  Georgia;  and  as  early  as  the  12th 
of  October,  1732,  they  made  application  to  the 
"Trustees"  to  aid  them  in  their  benevolent  de- 
signs. The  "Trustees"  did  not  feel  authorized 
at  this  time,  to  do  more  for  the  Salzburgers  than 
to  offer  them  grants  of  land  in  their  new  colony ; 
all  the  funds  which  they  controlled  having  been 
raised  for  a  different  purpose.  Steps  were  how- 
ever immediately  taken,  to  ascertain  whether  any 
of  the  German  Protestants  were  willing  to  remove 
to  Georgia,  and  become  British  subjects;  sub- 
mitting themselves  to  such  rules  as  the  "  Trus- 
tees" might  prescribe.  "The  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  Christian  Knowledge"  opened  a 


46  THE    SALZBURGERS 


correspondence  with  several  prominent  Protest- 
ant ministers  in  different  parts  of  Germany,  in 
order  to  ascertain  if  the  Salzburgers  were  dis- 
posed to  avail  themselves  of  their  kind  offices,  and 
remove  to  the  asylum  which  it  was  proposed  to 
provide  for  them  in  America. 

From  their  correspondents  the  "Society" 
learned,  that  there  were  hundreds  of  the  perse- 
cuted Protestants  who  were  not  only  willing,  but 
anxious  to  emigrate.  This  fact  was  communicated 
to  the  "Trustees,"  who,  warranted  by  a  special 
fund,  recently  raised  for  the  purpose,  sent  in 
December,  1732,  an  invitation  to  fifty  families 
of  the  Salzburgers  to  remove  to  Georgia. 

At  the  same  time,  the  venerable  "  Society" 
proposed  to  pay  their  expenses  from  Germany 
to  Rotterdam,  and  to  furnish  the  means  to  sup- 
port among  them  a  pastor  and  a  catechist. 
Various  causes  prevented  the  immediate  execu- 
tion of  these  plans.  In  the  mean  time,  a  liberal 
grant  of  money  was  made  by  the  British  Parlia- 
ment to  aid  .the  colony,  which,  together  with 
three  or  four  thousand  pounds  from  private  bene- 
factions, enabled  the  "  Trustees"  to  carry  out 
more  fully  the  benevolent  intentions  of  the 
Society.  They  consequently  wrote  again  to 
Germany  and  requested  that  a  portion  of  the 
Salzburgers  might  be  sent  over  to  England,  to 
prepare  for  their  transportation  to  America ; 
and,  in  the  mean  time,  money  and  articles  of 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  47 


clothing  were  forwarded  to  the  continent,  to 
supply  their  wants  and  relieve  their  distresses 
during  the  journey. 

One  cannot  but  admire  the  liberality  which 
the  trustees  displayed,  in  the  terms  upon  which 
they  proposed  to  transplant  these  poor,  perse- 
cuted Germans  to  their  new  colony.  To  such 
as  were  deemed  worthy  of  their  patronage,  they 
advanced  the  funds  necessary  to  pay  their  pas- 
sage and  furnish  sea-stores.  On  arriving  in 
Georgia,  each  Salzburger  was  to  receive  three 
lots.  ''  One  for  a  house  and  yard  within  the 
town,  and  one  for  a  garden  near  the  town,  and 
one  for  tillage  at  a  short  distance  from  the  town, 
(the  w^hole  embracing  fifty  acres,)  said  lands  to 
be  a  free-hold  to  them  and  to  their  heirs  for- 
ever." In  addition  to  this,  the  trustees  engaged 
to  furnish  them  with  provisions  until  their  lands 
could  be  made  available  for  their  own  support. 
In  consideration  of  these  very  liberal  grants, 
the  Salzburgers  were  to  obligate  themselves  to 
obey  the  trustees'  orders,  and  become  citizens  of 
Georgia,  with  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of 
Englishmen. 

The  necessary  arrangements  having  all  been 
completed,  the  first  company  of  emigrants  be- 
gan to  prepare  for  their  journey.  These  were 
from  the  town  of  Berchtolsgaden  and  its  vicinity. 
One  may  readily  imagine  the  varied  sensations 
of  these  devoted  Christians,  as  the  time  drew 


48  THE    SALZBURGERS 


near  •which  was  to  witness  their  departure  from 
their  homes  and  their  country.     True,  they  had 
there  endured  severe  persecutions  and  trials ;  but 
they  were  men  whose  natural  affections  had  been 
refined  by  the  mild  influences  of  Christianity,  and, 
with  all  its  faults,  they  loved  their  country  still. 
There,  too,  were  the  scenes  of  their  childhood, 
endeared  by  all  the  fond  recollections  of  early 
life,  and  hallowed  by  those  religious  associations 
so  peculiarly  grateful  to  the  pious  heart.     Yet, 
how  dear  soever  were  their  native  hills  and  vales, 
and  painfully  pleasing  as  were  many  of  the  re- 
miniscences of  the  past,  they  could  not  have  failed 
to  realize  that  they  were  the  objects  of  a  cruel 
hate,  and   that    they   held    their   property  and 
their  lives  at  the   disposal  of  a  merciless  foe. 
Beside,    their   religious   principles,  which   they 
esteemed  more  precious  than  life,  had  been  de- 
nounced  as   heresy,    and  the   right   to  worship 
God   in  accordance  with  their  views  and  feel- 
ings had  been  denied  them.    Thus  circumstanced, 
how  peculiarly  grateful  must  have  been  the  pros- 
pects which  unfolded  themselves  to  their  vision, 
as  they  contemplated  their  removal  from  what 
might,  with  propriety,  be  styled  the  land  of  their 
captivity   and    cruel    oppression,    to    a    country 
where,  freed  from  the  restrictions  now  imposed 
upon  them,  and  placed  beyond  the  reach  of  their 
spiritual  enemies,  they  could  worship  the  God  of 
their  fathers  without  hindrance,  and  secure  to 


i\ND    THKIIl    DESCENDANTS.  49 


themselves  and  their  posterity  a  heritage  of 
freedom. 

At  length  the  day  for  their  departure  arrived. 
Behold  now  these  pious  pilgrims  about  to  leave 
forever  their  country  and  their  homes.  "  They 
were  indeed  a  noble  army  of  martyrs  going  forth 
in  the  strength  of  God,  and  triumphing  in  the 
faith  of  the  gospel,  under  the  severest  hard- 
ships and  the  most  rigorous  persecutions.  They 
"were  marshalled  under  no  banners,  save  that 
of  the  cross,  and  were  preceded  by  no  leaders, 
save  their  spiritual  teachers  and  the  great  Cap- 
tain of  their  salvation."*  They  carried  with  them 
no  weapons,  save  their  hymn-books  and  their 
Bibles,  and  as  they  journeyed  they  made  the 
air  vocal  with  their  praises  to  Him  who,  though 
he  had  permitted  them  to  be  persecuted  and 
even  exiled,  had  not  left  them  without  protec- 
tion and  friends,  nor  given  them  up  into  the 
hands  of  their  oppressors. 

Setting  out  on  foot,  the  direction  of  their 
journey  required  them  to  pass  through  Bavaria, 
and  at  almost  every  step  they  were  exposed  to 
insult.  Whenever  it  suited  the  Catholic  author- 
ities, these  wanderers  were  turned  aside  from 
their  course,  and  every  effort  was  made  to  em- 
barrass them  and  render  their  situation  unplea- 
sant.     But   no    hindrances    could   check    their 

*  Bancroft. 


60  THE    SALZBURGERS 


zeal,  no  promises  or  threats  could  change  their 
determination.  Onward  they  march,  through 
the  midst  of  foes,  until  at  last  they  pass  the 
territory  of  Bavaria,  and  arrive  before  the  gates 
of  the  free  city  of  Augsburg,  in  Swabia.  But 
the  gates  of  that  renowned  city  were  closed 
against  them.'*' 

This  was  indeed  a  severe  trial.  In  this  very 
place,  two  hundred  years  previously,  Melancthon 
and  Luther  had  presented  to  the  Emperor  Charles 
y.  and  the  assembled  princes  of  Germany,  that 
venerable  symbol  of  the  reformed  faith  which 
from  this  city  received  the  name  of  the  Augs- 
burg Oonfe'ssion.-f  It  was  for  embracing  this 
confession,  and  for  their  consistent  and  unwa- 
vering maintenance  of  its  doctrines,  that  they 
had  endured  so  much  persecution,  and  were  now 
wandering  in  exile,  seeking  for  a  home  in  a  dis- 
tant and  unknown  clime.  However,  though  at 
first  repulsed,  the  officers  of  the  city,  overawed 
by  the  Protestant  inhabitants,  reluctantly  ad- 
mitted the  emigrants,  and  their  Lutheran  bre- 
thren immediately  made  provision  for  their  enter- 
tainment and  the  supply  of  their  wants.  Here 
for  a  season  they  rested,  enjoying  the  kind  hos- 
pitality of  their  Christian  friends,  and  gathering 
from  their  sympathy  and  their  offices  of  love, 
fresh    courage     and     encouragement     for    the 

*  Stevens.  f  Ibid. 


r. 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  51 


further  prosecution  of  their  long   and   tedious 
journey. 

The  news  of  the  arrival  of  the  Salzburgers  at 
Augsburg,  soon  spread  through  the  neighbour- 
ing countries,  and  now  it  would  seem  that  the 
sympathies  of  evangelical  Christians  were  gene- 
rally aroused  on  their  behalf.  Not  only  did  the 
Lutheran  pastors  and  their  flocks  manifest  a 
deep  interest  in  their  welfare,  but  princes,  pro- 
fessors, and  students  in  the  universities  and 
colleges  vied  with  each  other  in  doing  honour  to 
those  who,  in  obeying  the  dictates  of  their  con- 
sciences and  yielding  to  a  sense  of  religious  ob- 
ligation, had  preferred  banishment,  rather  than 
renounce  their  attachment  to  the  gospel.* 

On  the  21st  day  of  October,  1733,  the  Salz- 
burgers recommenced  their  pilgrimage,  after  a 
discourse  and  prayer,  and  a  benediction.  This 
company  of  emigrants  consisted  of  forty-two 
men,  with  their  families,  numbering  in  all  seventy- 
eight  persons.  The  arrangements  for  their  trans- 
portation to  Georgia  had  been  previously  made 
with  the  "Trustees,"  by  the  venerable  Samuel 
Urlsperger,  then  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church, 
of  St.  Ann  in  the  city  of  Augsburg,  who  be- 
stowed special  attention  upon  them  during  their 
sojourn,  and  ever  afterward  watched  over  their 
welfare  with   the   solicitude   of  an   aflfectionatc 


*  StevcDi 


52  THE    SALZBUKGERS 


father.  On  leaving  the  city,  the  Salzburgers, 
were  furnished  by  their  friends,  with  three  rude 
carts,  in  one  of  which  they  placed  their  baggage, 
while  the  others  conveyed  their  feeble  women 
and  helpless  children  ;  the  rest  travelled  on  foot. 
It  was  under  such  circumstances  that  they  began 
their  weary  march,  as  pilgrims  seeking  a  better 
country. 

The  sojourn  of  the  Salzburgers  in  Augsburg 
was  not  Avithout  its  practical  effects  upon  the  in- 
habitants of  the  city.  The  power  of  the  gospel 
was  so  strikingly  exemplified  in  the  patience 
and  fortitude  which  they  displayed  x amid  all 
their  sufferings,  and  they  evinced  a  spirit  of 
such  deep  and  fervent  piety  in  their  general 
deportment,  that  by  their  example  many  were 
awakened,  and  the  churches  were  blessed  with  a 
very  gracious  revival  of  religion.  Thus,  while 
they  were  flying  from  persecution,  God  was 
employing  their  instrumentality  in  multiplying 
the  triumphs  of  evangelical  truth. 

After  leaving  Augsburg,  the  incidents  con- 
nected with  their  journey  varied  according  to 
,the  religious  character  of  the  country  through 
which  they  passed.  At  one  time  they  are  en- 
couraged by  the  hospitality  and  sympathy  of 
friends;  at  other  times,  exposed  to  the  scofTs 
and  maltreatment  of  their  enemies.  To-day 
they  receive  every  assistance  which  Christian 
kindness    can    suggest ;     to-morrow    they    are 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  o3 


threatened  by  their  adversaries,  and  turned  aside 
from  their  way  by  their  intolerant  enemies. 
But  amid  the  most  trying  circumstances  they 
were  cheerful  and  happy,  always  looking  up  to 
the  throne  of  God  with  joyful  hope,  and  sus- 
tained by  the  promise,  "I  will  never  leave  you 
nor  forsake  you." 

Pursuing  their  weary  pilgrimage,  they  arrived 
at  length  at  the  Protestant  city  of  Frankfort,  in 
Nassau.  The  burghers  of  the  city,  hearing  of 
their  approach,  went  out  to  meet  and  welcome 
them,  and  extend  to  them  a  hospitable  recep- 
tion. We  can  easily  imagine  with  what  warm 
enthusiasm  these  Christian  men  greeted  the  toil- 
worn  exiles,  arid  how  aifecting  was  the  scene, 
as  they  embraced  each  other  as  the  disciples  of 
the  same  Saviour,  and  as  the  professors  of  a 
common  faith.  Their  salutations  being  over, 
and  the  first  gust  of  feeling  having  subsided, 
a  procession  was  formed,  headed  by  the  pious 
burghers,  and  they  marched  into  the  city  two 
by  two.  And  how  solemn  and  imposing  their 
entrance !  No  clangour  of  trumpets,  no  notes 
of  martial  music  herald  their  approach.  They 
pass  into  the  city,  not  amid  the  shouts  of  the 
noisy  multitude,  but  singing  one  of  those  beau- 
tiful psalms  in  which  they  had  been  wont,  in 
their  native  land,  to  pour  forth  the  pious  aspi- 
rations of  their  souls  to  their  Saviour  and  their 
God.     This    little   incident   speaks    volumes   iu 


M  THE   SALZBUKGERS 


testimony  of  the  truly  devotional  spirit  which 
characterized  these  people,  and  shows,  too,  that 
their  strength  lay  in  the  simplicity  of  their 
faith. 

At  Frankfort,  as  at  Augsburg,  the  Salzburgers 
experienced  every  attention  which  Christian  affec- 
tion could  suggest  and  an  ample  charity  pro- 
vide. After  remaining  here  for  a  few  days  to 
refresh  themselves,  and  to  partake  of  the  bounty 
of  their  brethren,  they  embarked  upon  the  Maine, 
and  soon  found  themselves  floating  upon  the  waters 
of  the  beautiful  Rhine.  "As  they  passed  be- 
tween the  castled  crags,  the  vineyards,  and  the 
white-walled  towns  that  adorn  its  banks,  their 
conversation,  amid  hymns  and  psalms,  is  of  jus- 
tification and  sanctification."*  Thus  employed, 
the  hours  glided  away,  not  only  pleasantly  but 
profitably,  and  they  realize  every  day  more  fully 
the  joys  and  consolations  of  that  religion  for 
the  enjoyment  of  which  they  had  suffered  the 
loss  of  all  things. 

On  the  27th  of  November  they  reached  the 
city  of  Rotterdam.  Here  they  were  joined  by 
their  chosen  teachers,  the  Rev.  John  Martin 
Bolzius,  and  Rev.  Israel  Christian  Gronau.  The 
former  had  been  superintendent  of  the  Latin 
Orphan  House  at  Halle,  and  the  latter  a  tutor 
in  the  same  institution.  These  pious  men,  in 
the   exercise  of  a  truly  missionary  spirit,  had 

"•••  Bancroft. 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  55 


consented  to  relinquish  the  lucrative  and  honour- 
able positions  which  they  held  in  the  institution 
at  Halle,  that  they  might  accompany  the  Salz- 
burgers  to  Georgia,  and  minister  to  their  spiritual 
wants.  Subsequent  events  showed,  that  this  im- 
portant trust  was  confided  to  those  who  were  in 
every  respect  worthy  of  it.  Very  little  is  known 
of  the  early  history  of  Messrs.  Bolzius  and 
Gronau.  All  that  has  been  ascertained  in  refe- 
rence to  Mr.  Bolzius  is,  that  he  was  born  on  the 
15th  of  December,  1703,  and  ordained  to  the 
gospel  ministry  on  the  11th  of  November,  1733. 

After  staying  for  a  week  at  Rotterdam,  the 
emigrants,  in  company  with  their  pastors,  em- 
barked on  board  of  one  of  the  Trustees'  ships 
on  the  2d  of  December.  Their  passage  down 
the  English  Channel  was  a  long  and  tedious  one, 
the  weather  having  been  boisterous  and  the 
winds  adverse. 

On  the  21st  day  of  December  they  arrived 
safely  at  Dover,  in  England-  Here  they  were 
visited  by  the  "Trustees,"  who  bestowed  on 
them  every  attention  which  their  circumstances 
seemed  to  require.  Nor  did  they  fail  to  engage 
the  sympathies  of  their  English  friends.  Their 
piety  and  humility,  their  exemplary  conduct 
under  all  circumstances,  together  with  the  suf- 
ferings and  privations  which  they  had  endured 
in  the  cause  of  Christian  truth,  r-ommended 
them  to  the  confidence  and  the  kind  regards  of 


56  THE   SALZBURG KRS 


all  who  were  capable  of  appreciating  their  vir- 
tues or  pitying  their  wrongs. 

The  arrangements  for  their  voyage  to  America 
were  made  with  all  reasonable  despatch,  and  the 
28th  day  of  December  was  fixed  upon  as  the 
time  for  their  departure  for  their  new  homes. 
The  Trustees  administered  to  each  Salzburger 
an  "  oath  of  strict  piety,  loyalty,  and  fidelity," 
after  which  they  spent  several  hours  in  devo- 
tional exercises.*  Their  pastor  preached  to 
them  an  appropriate  sermon  from  the  words, 
(Isa.  xlix.  10,)  ^'  He  that  hath  mercy  on  them 
will  lead  them."  In  this  address  he  endea- 
voured, by  reviewing  the  mercies  which  they 
had  experienced  under  the  most  trying  circum- 
stances, to  inspire  them  with  fresh  confidence 
in  the  goodness  of  God.  He  encouraged  them 
to  believe,  that  He  ayIio  had  hitherto  been  their 
protector,  and  had  defended  them  against  all 
the  machinations  of  their  enemies,  would  watch 
over  them  amidst  the  dangers  of  the  trackless 
ocean,  as  well  as  those  to  which  they  might  be 
exposed  in  the  strange  land  whither  they  were 
going.  After  singing  a  hymn  and  uniting  in 
prayer,  the  Purisburg,  (the  first  ship  conveying 
German  emigrants,)  unfolded  her  sails,  and  the 
first  company  of  Salzburgers  who  were  to  aid  in 
the  colonization  of  Georgia,  departed  for  their 
distant  home. 


Stevcus. 


AND   THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  57 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  Salzburgers  at  sea — Conduct  during  the  voj'age — Arrival 
at  Charleston,  S.  C. — General  Oglethorpe — Departure  from 
Charleston — Arrival  at  Savannah — Sentiments  of  the  emigrants 
— Their  reception  at  Savannah — Notes  of  Mr.  Bolzius — Baron 
Yon  Reck — Conduct  of  the  Indians — Disembarkation  of  the 
Salzburgers — Liberality  of  General  Oglethorpe — Expedition 
into  the  country — Description  of  the  country — Devout  conduct 
of  the  Salzburgers — Ebenezer — Foundation  of  the  colony — 
Location  of  their  settlement — Uchee  Indians — St.  Matthew's 
Parish — Lord  Effingham — Town  laid  out — Salzburgers  remove 
to  theirnew  home — Impressions  in  relation  to  the  nature  of  the 
country — Baron  Von  Reek's  enthusiastic  descriptitm — Real  cha- 
racter of  the  country — Assignment  of  lots — Hardships  incident 
to  colonization — Scarcity  of  mechanics  and  materials  for  building 
— Other  trials — Sickness  and  death  among  the  colonists — Ex- 
tracts from  Mr.  Bolzius' journal — Influence  of  affliction — Arri- 
val of  a  second  company  of  Salzburgers — Improvement  in  the 
condition  of  the  colony — Progress  of  the  town,  &c. 

To  one  -who  has  always  resided  at  a  distance 
from  the  sea-board,  few  objects  appear  more 
awfully  grand  than  the  mighty  ocean,  with  its 
seemingly  boundless  space  of  waters.  Nowhere 
will  man  be  more  fully  impressed  with  a  sense 
of  his  dependence  than  when  he  is  isolated  from 
the  rest  of  the  world,  and  left  to  the  mercy  of 
the  winds  and  waves.  If  at  any  time  the  soul 
is  disposed  for  holy  contemplation,  it  must  bo 


58  THE   SALZBURGERS 


■when  man  is  removed  far  away  from  human 
succour  and  in  the  consciousness  of  his  own  help- 
lessness is  forced  to  meditate  upon  the  power 
and  goodness  of  his  Creator. 

Such  was  now  the  situation  of  the  Salzbur- 
gers.  Coming  from  the  interior  of  Europe, 
they  knew  nothing  of  the  ocean,  except  what 
they  had  heard ;  and  to  them  the  perils  of  a 
voyage  at  sea  no  doubt  assumed  a  fearful  cha- 
racter. Launched  upon  its  bosom,  every  thing 
was  new  to  them,  and  they  knew  not  which  to 
admire  most,  its  strangeness  or  its  sublimity. 
But  though  its  wonders  inspired  them  with  awe 
and  humility,  their  hearts,  sustained  by  a  holy 
fortitude,  experienced  no  fear ;  and  no  sooner  did 
the  shores  of  England  vanish  from  their  vision, 
than  they  broke  forth  in  psalms  of  praise  to  Him 
"who  measures  the  waters  in  the  hollow  of  His 
hands."  Every  day  furnished  them  with  new 
subjects  of  contemplation.  The  ocean  hushed 
into  repose,  or  lashed  by  the  winds  into  furious 
commotion ;  the  dark  and  lowering  storm  howl- 
ing through  their  vessel ;  the  gentle  breezes 
wafting  them  gayly  on  their  course,  all  supply 
them  with  themes  of  thanksgiving,  and  awaken 
in  their  souls  new  emotions  of  gratitude. 

Nor  did  they,  in  the  exciting  scenes  which 
surrounded  them,  neglect  their  spiritual  im- 
provement. Blessed  with  the  presence  of  two 
pious  teachers,  much  of  their  time  was  spent  in 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  .09 


religious  conversation.  Daily  worship  was  ob- 
served; and  when  the  Sabbath  arrived,  their 
ship  became  their  Bethel,  where  they  were 
favored  with  the  faithful  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel, and  enjoyed,  as  far  as  their  situation  would 
permit,  all  the  privileges  of  the  sanctuary. 

After  a  perilous  passage  of  one  hundred  and 
four  days,  they  reached  Charleston,  S.  C,  early 
in  March,  1734.  Here  they  providentially  met 
General  Oglethorpe,  who  had  gone  thither  for 
the  purpose  of  making  a  voyage  to  England,  with 
a  view  to  procure  reinforcements  for  the  colony. 
As  soon,  however,  as  he  heard  of  the  arrival  of 
the  Salzburgers,  with  his  usual  benevolence  of 
heart  he  relinquished  his  intended  journey,  and 
returned  to  Georgia  to  aid  these  exiles  in  making 
an  advantageous  settlement. 

Remaining  in  Charleston  a  few  days,  the 
Salzburgers  re-embarked  on  the  9th  day  of 
March.  On  the  11th  they  entered  the  Savan- 
nah River.  This,  according  to  the  Lutheran 
Calendar,  was  "Reminiscere  Sunday."  Here 
was  indeed  a  striking  coincidence,  and  the  oc- 
casion suggested  a  train  of  very  pleasing  reflec- 
tions. No  doubt  they  recalled  the  memories  of 
other  days,  when  they  endured  so  much  afflic- 
tion for  conscience  sake ;  and  in  dwelling  upon 
the  scenes  of  trial  through  which  they  had 
passed,  the  kindness  with  which  God  had  safely 
conducted  them  through  every  danger,  and  the 


m 


THE    SALZBURGERS 


favourable  prospects  which  now  opened  to 
them,  their  hearts  were  oppressed  by  a  sense  of 
gratitude  too  great  for  utterance.  But  amid 
the  associations  of  this  hallow^ed  day  their  minds 
were  calm.  The  promises  of  peace  and  mercy 
tranquillized  their  spirits,  and  no  anxious  cares 
for  the  future  disturbed  their  repose.  One  of 
their  number,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend  in  Germany, 
speaks  thus  of  this  occasion :  "  While  we  lay 
off  the  banks  of  our  dear  Georgia,  in  a  very 
lovely  calm,  and  heard  the  birds  singing  sweetly, 
all  was  cheerful  on  board.  It  was  really  edify- 
ing to  us,  that  we  came  to  the  borders  of  the 
promised  land  this  day,  when,  as  we  are  taught 
by  its  lessons  from  the  gospel,  Jesus  came  to 
the  sea-coast  after  he  had  endured  persecution 
and  rejection  by  his  countrymen."*  To  com- 
memorate this  day,  it  was  resolved  to  celebrate 
it  as  an  annual  festival  of  thanksgiving  to  God ; 
and  this  practice  w^as  observed  for  a  very  long 
period. 

On  the  12th  of  March  the  Salzburgers  reached 
Savannah,  and  here  a  truly  cordial  reception 
was  given  them.  They  were  greeted  with  the 
acclamations  of  the  colonists,  and  entertained  with 
every  mark  of  hospitality.  General  Oglethorpe 
himself  went  down  to  the  river  to  meet  and  wel- 
come them  to  their  new  homes,  and  with  his  accus- 
tomed liberality  offered  to  give  them  any  of  the  un- 

*  Steveus. 


AND    THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  61 


appropriated  lands  upon  which  they  might  prefer 
to  settle,  and  to  furnish  them  -with  every  facility 
that  he  could  command.  Such  were  the  favour- 
able circumstances  under  which  these  pilgrims 
reached  the  land  of  their  adoption. 

Mr.  Bolzius,  in  his  journal,  under  date  of 
March  11,  1734,  says,  *'At  the  place  of  our 
landing  almost  all  the  inhabitants  of  Savannah 
were  gathered  together.  They  fired  off  some 
cannon,  and  cried  huzza  !  which  was  answered 
by  our  sailors,  and  other  English  people  in  our 
ship,  in  the  same  manner.  A  good  dinner  was 
prepared  for  us.  We,  the  commissary,  and 
Dr.  Twiffler,  our  physician  were  lodged  in  the 
house  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Quincy,  the  English  mis- 
sionary." 

Baron  Von  Reck  thus  records  the  same  event : 
"  The  citizens  returned  our  salute  of  five  guns  with 
three ;  and  all  the  magistrates,  the  citizens,  and  the 
Indians  came  to  the  river  side.  The  two  divines, 
(Messrs.  Bolzius  and  Gronau,)  Mr.  Dunbar,  some 
others,  and  myself  went  ashore  in  a  boat.  We 
were  received  with  all  possible  demonstrations 
of  joy,  friendship,  and  civility.  The  Indians 
reached  their  hands  to  me,  as  a  testimony  of 
their  joy  also  for  our  arrival.  The  Salzburgers 
came  on  shore  after  us,  and  we  immediately 
pitched  a  tent  for  them  in  the  square  of  the 
town." 

The  Salzburgers  having  all  safely  disem- 
G 


62  THE   SALZBURGERS 


barked,  the  next  object  of  interest  "vvas  to  select 
a  location  for  their  settlement.  General  Ogle- 
thorpe informed  Baron  Von  Reck  (who  con- 
ducted this  expedition)  that  his  people  might 
exercise  their  own  choice  in  this  particular 
This  fact  being  communicated  to  them,  they 
expressed  a  desire  to  be  removed  to  some  dis- 
tance from  the  sea,  where  the  scenery  was  diver- 
sified with  hill  and  dale,  and  they  might  be 
supplied  with  springs  of  w^ater.  This  wish,  no 
doubt,  originated  in  the  associations  connected 
with  home,  such  having  been  the  nature  of  the 
country  in  which  they  had  been  reared.  To 
carry  out  their  views.  General  Oglethorpe,  in 
company  with  Paul  Jenys,  Esq.,  Speaker  of  the 
South  Carolina  House  of  Assembly,  Baron  Yon 
Reck,  Mr.  Gronau,  Dr.  Twiffler,  their  physician, 
and  one  of  the  Lutheran  elders,  together  with 
some  Indians,  made  a  tour  of  observation  into 
the  adjoining  country,  while  the  great  body  of 
the  Germans  remained  in  the  city  to  rest  them- 
selves from  the  effects  of  their  long  and  tedious 
voyage. 

The  "corps  of  observation,"  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  their  mission,  penetrated  nearly 
thirty  miles  into  the  interior,  where  they  disco- 
vered a  location  which,  it  was  supposed,  would 
meet  the  wishes  of  the  emigrants.  The  place 
was  described  as  being  on  "  the  banks  of  a 
river  of  clear  water,  the  sides  high,  the  country 


AND   TIIETR    DESCENDANTS.  63 


of  the  neighbourhood  hilly,  with  valleys  of  rich 
cane-land,  intermixed  with  little  brooks  and 
springs  of  water."  The  Salzburgers  who  were 
of  this  company  expressed  themselves  as  highly 
gratified  with  the  situation  and  the  general  ap- 
pearance of  the  country.  But  as  they  had  been 
wont  to  sanctify  every  act  by  thanksgiving  and 
prayer,  and  as  the  events  of  this  day  would 
probably  exert  an  important  influence  upon  their 
future  prosperity,  they  meekly  bowed  beside  the 
water,  and  invoked  the  divine  protection  and 
blessing.  They  finished  their  journey,  as  they 
commenced  it,  with  fervent  praise  to  God  for 
his  great  goodness  as  displayed  in  their  past 
history,  but  especially  in  bringing  them  to  so 
goodly  a  land.  After  singing  a  psalm,  they  set 
up  a  rock,  which  they  found  upon  the  spot,  and, 
in  the  spirit  of  the  pious  Samuel,  named  the 
place  Ebenezer,  (the  stone  of  help,)  for  they 
could  truly  say,  "  Hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped 
us."  Thus,  with  devout  gratitude  to  God,  and 
humble  reliance  upon  his  goodness,  the  founda- 
tion was  laid  for  the  Colony  of  the  Salz- 
burgers. 

It  may  be  well  here  to.  remark  that  the  lands 
alloted  to  the  Salzburgers  bordered  on  the  pos- 
sessions of  the  Uchee  Indians,  from  whom  Gene- 
ral Oglethorpe  obtained  them  some  time  pre- 
viously. It  is  worthy  of  note  that  though  these 
Indians  were  near  neighbours  to  the  Germans,  • 


64  THE   SALZBURGERS 


they  never  manifested  any  hostile  disposition. 
On  the  contrary,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that 
the  most  friendly  relations  always  subsisted  be- 
tween them.  It  may  be  proper  to  state  here 
that  the  place  selected  was  about  twenty-five 
miles  from  the  city  of  Savannah,  in  a  district 
of  country  afterward  known  as  St.  Matthew's 
Parish,  and  subsequently  erected  into  a  county, 
which  was  called  EfiBngham,  after  an  English 
nobleman — Lord  Effingham — who  defended,  in 
the  British  Parliament,  in  1775,  the  resistance 
of  the  American  Colonies  to  the  usurpations  of 
the  mother  country,  and  resigned  his  commis- 
sion in  the  British  army  when  he  ascertained 
that  his  regiment  was  about  to  be  ordered  to 
America,  to  aid  in  enforcing  the  unjust  exac- 
tions of  the  crown.  The  county  still  bears  that 
title. 

The  site  for  a  settlement  having  been  agreed 
upon,  General  Oglethorpe  marked  out  the  town, 
and  sent  up  workmen  to  assist  the  colonists  in 
clearing  lands  and  erecting  temporary  dwellings, 
which  consisted  of  tents  and  sheds  constructed 
of  rough  planks.  In  a  few  weeks,  the  prepara- 
tions for  the  accommodation  of  the  settlers  being 
in  a  suitable  state  of  forwardness,  the  whole 
body  of  Germans,  in  company  with  their  pastors, 
went  up  to  their  new  homes  at  Ebenezer.  Here 
in  the  wilderness  of  Georgia,  far  distant  from 
the  land  of  their  birth  and  the  graves  of  their 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  65 


fathers,  these  exiles  ended  their  wanderings, 
and  found  at  last  a  resting-place,  where,  freed 
from  the  censorship  of  man,  and  unawed  by 
fears  of  violence,  they  could  enjoy  repose  and 
■worship  God,  '<  under  their  own  vine  and  fig- 
tree."  Hitherto  they  had  been  driven  from 
place  to  place,  and  nowhere  had  they  found 
"A  sheltering  home  of  sympathy  and  love." 
But  now  their  conflicts  were  measurably  ended. 
The  providence  of  God  had  placed  them  beyond 
the  reach  of  persecution,  and  they  could  erect 
their  spiritual  temples,  enjoy  the  teachings  of 
their  faithful  pastors,  rear  their  offspring  to 
virtue  and  to  usefulness  under  the  benign  in- 
fluences of  the  gospel ;  and  living  in  the  grateful 
use  of  the  bounties  of  a  kind  Providence,  and 
the  faithful  improvement  of  the  means  of  grace, 
pass  their  days  in  contentment  and  peace,  and 
acquire  continually  a  fitness  for  that  still  more 
glorious  heritage  prepared  for  them  in  heaven. 

We  may  learn  from  the  journal  of  Baron  Von 
Reck  how  the  Salzburgers  esteemed  their  new 
residence.  He  states  that  "the  lands  are  en- 
closed between  two  rivers  which  fall  into  the 
Savannah.  The  town  is  to  be  built  near  the 
largest,  which  is  called  Ebenezer,  in  remem- 
brance that  God  has  brought  them  hither.  It 
is  navigable,  being  twelve  feet  deep.  A  little 
rivulet,  whose  water  is  clear  as  crystal,  glides  by 
the  town.     Another  runs  through   it  and  both 


66  THE   SALZBURGERS 


fall  into  the  Ebenezer.  The  woods  here  are  not 
so  thick  as  in  other  places.  The  sweet  zephyrs 
preserve  a  delicious  coolness,  notwithstanding 
the  scorching  beams  of  the  sun»  There  are  very 
fine  meadows,  in  which  a  great  quantity  of  hay 
might  be  made  with  very  little  trouble.  The 
hillocks  are  also  very  fit.  for  vines.  The  cedar, 
walnut,  pine,  cypress,  and  oak  make  the  great- 
est part  of  the  woods.  There  are  likewise  a 
great  quantity  of  myrtle-trees,  out  of  which 
they  extract,  by  boiling  the  berries,  a  green 
wax  very  proper  to  make  candles  with.  There 
is  much  sassafras,  and  a  great  quantity  of  those 
plants  of  which  indigo  is  made,  and  an  abun- 
dance of  China-root.  The  earth  is  so  fertile, 
that  it  will  bring  forth  any  thing  that  can  be 
sown  or  planted  in  it,  whether  fruits,  herbs,  or 
trees.  There  are  wild  vines,  which  run  up'  to 
the  tops  of  the  tallest  trees,  and  the  country  is 
so  good  that  any  one  may  ride  in  full  gallop 
twenty  or  thirty  miles.  As  to  game,  here  are 
eagles,  wild  turkeys,  roe-bucks,  wild  goats, 
stags,  wild  cows,  horses,  hares,  partridges,  and 
buifaloes." 

To  one  living  at  this  distant  period,  and  who 
is  at  all  acquainted  with  the  locality  of  old 
Ebenezer,  and  the  general  character  of  the  sur- 
rounding country,  the  above  description  by  the 
enthusiastic  baron  appears  to  partake  somewhat 
of  the  marvellous.     We  must  either  make  con- 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  67 


siderable  allowances  for  the  warmth  of  his  ima- 
gination, or  conclude  that  the  country  has  under- 
gone a  very  great  change.  The  site  of  their 
town  was  about  four  miles  below  Springfield,  the 
present  seat  of  justice  for  Effingham  county,  in 
a  region  which  is  composed  of  hills  and  plains 
that  are  very  sterile,  and  upon  which  no  one, 
having  a  correct  knowledge  of  the  character  of 
the  soil,  would  ever  think  of  settling  a  farm. 
But  circumstanced  as  the  Salzburgers  were, 
exiled  from  their  country  and  worn  out  by  the 
fatigue  of  travelling  both  by  sea  and  by  land, 
they  no  doubt  were  inclined  to  regard  with 
favour  any  spot,  which  promised  them  rest  from 
their  toils  and  a  period  to  their  cruel  sufferings. 
Upon  the  arrival  of  the  Salzburgers  at  Ebcn- 
ezer,  it  was  deemed  proper  to  assign  a  lot  of 
land  to  each  family,  according  to  the  design  of 
the  Trustees.  This  having  been  done,  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  the  erection  of  more  per- 
mament  and  comfortable  dwellings,  and  a  plan 
was  adopted  for  a  house  of  worship.  But  now 
these  devoted  people  were  to  experience  many 
of  the  difficulties  and  hardships  which  are 
always  incident  upon  a  new  settlement.  In 
building  their  houses,  they  were  very  much  hin- 
dered by  the  scarcity  of  materials.  It  is  true, 
the  Trustees  had  furnished  a  supply  of  plank 
and  other  timber,  but  not  in  sufficient  quantities 
to  meet  the  demand  of  the  settlers.     Besides, 


68  THE   SALZBURGERS 


there  were  among  them  very  few  mechanics ;  and 
not  being  able  to  erect  either  saw  or  grist  mills, 
their  situation  became  very  trying.  In  a  newly- 
settled  country,  too,  the  means  of  transportation 
were  necessarily  very  limited;  and  having  no 
boats  or  wagons  of  their  own,  they  were  entirely 
dependant  on  the  government  for  the  conveyance 
of  their  supplies ;  and  such  were  the  straits  to 
which  they  were  at  times  reduced,  that  they 
were  compelled  to  carry  their  provisions  upon 
their  backs  from  Savannah,  a  distance  of  twenty- 
five  miles.  To  add  to  their  sufferings,  much 
sickness  prevailed  among  them,  superinduced  no 
doubt,  by  exposure  and  excessive  fatigue  in  a 
warm  climate.  The  mortality  which  ensued  was 
very  distressing ;  but  we  learn  from  the  journal 
of  Pastor  Bolzius,  that  those  who  became 
victims  to  disease  and  death  endured  their 
afilictions  with  Christian  resignation,  and  closed 
their  earthly  pilgrimage  with  joy  and  triumph. 

Among  those  of  whom  special  mention  is 
made,  was  a  Mrs.  Goshwandel.  Speaking  of 
her,  Mr.  Bolzius  remarks :  *'  It  had  pleased 
Almighty  God  to  lead  her  through  tedious  and 
painful  hours  previous  to  her  death.  She  im- 
proved the  Passion  Week  to  derive  spiritual 
strength  and  comfort  from  contemplating  the 
sufferings  of  her  Saviour,  and  would  have  been 
rejoiced  had  the  Lord  called  her  home  on  the 
anniversary   of  his  death.     No   complaints  es- 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  69 


caped  her  lips;  and  when  visitors  noticed  her 
distress,  she  would  say :  *  Our  Lord  is  kind  to 
me,  and  he  can  restore  me,  if  it  is  his  will,  and 
resignation  to  that  will  is  all  I  desire.'  God 
granted  her  great  comfort  during  the  last  mo- 
ments of  her  life." 

Speaking  of  a  visit  to  another  about  the  same 
time,  Mr.  Bolzius  remarks :  "  Our  sick  friend 
expressed  his  dissatisfaction  with  himself  on 
account  of  his  negligence  and  carelessness 
toward  all  that  was  most  valuable  to  man ;  he 
observed  that  the  zeal  he  had  felt  during  the 
persecutions  in  Salzburg  had  left  him,  which 
grieved  him  very  much.  He  remembered  per- 
fectly well,  he  said,  how  the  most  ignorant  peo- 
ple in  Salzburg  had  frequently  assembled  in 
mountains  and  among  the  cliffs  of  rocks  for  the 
purpose  of  singing,  praying,  and  the  reading  of 
the  Scriptures,  being  full  of  hunger  and  thirst 
after  the  word ;  and  how  they  had  experienced 
the  goodness  and  mercy  of  God  in  these  meet- 
ings. In  this  frame  he  expired."  In  recording 
the  death  of  another  person,  this  faithful  pastor 
says :  "  To-day  our  friend  departed  this  life. 
In  the  midst  of  great  pain,  her  trust  and  con- 
fidence were  in  the  will  of  the  Lord,  and  she 
was  anxious  to  be  with  him." 

Having  visited  a  sick  man  by  the  name  of 
Schofpach,  the  pastor  states :  "  I  found  him 
very  low-spirited,  and  spoke  to  him  about  our 


to  THE   SALZBURGERS 


dear  Saviour,  setting  forth  to  him  how  we  might 
both  live  and  die  happily  in  communion  with 
Christ.  He  assented  to  all  that  I  had  said,  and 
stated  that  he  was  now  experiencing  that  man, 
in  himself,  was  nothing  at  all ;  that  sin  was  the 
greatest  of  all  evils  ;  and  that  it  was  necessary 
to  treasure  up  much  of  the  grace  of  God  and 
the  hopes  of  the  gospel  for  the  contest  of  the 
last  hour.  Having  prayed  with  him,  I  left  him 
in  hopes  that  the  Lord  would  bless  that  visit. 
A  few  days  after,  this  man  expired  with  a  joyful 
confidence  in  the  atonement  of  Christ." 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  death  was  making 
inroads  upon  the  infant  town,  and  filling  many 
a  family  wdth  sorrow  and  mourning.  But  these 
seemingly  adverse  circumstances  were  not  with- 
out their  salutary  effect,  in  checking  every  thing 
like  worldly-mindedness  and  indifference  to  reli- 
gious duty,  and  in  endearing  to  the  hearts  of 
this  people  that  religion,  which  could  not  only 
cheer  and  support  them  under  every  trial  of 
life,  but  w^as  capable  of  imparting  serenity  and 
triumph  in  the  hour  of  death.  Amid  all  these 
scenes  of  sufi"ering  and  distress,  the  emigrants 
laboured  patiently,  though  they  were  exposed  to 
sickness  and  hunger,  and  even  death,  hoping  for 
better  and  happier  days. 

Such  was  the  state  of  things  at  Ebenezer, 
when  a  second  party  of  emigrants  arrived. 
These  were  likewise  Salzburgers,  who  had  been 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  71 


sent  over  by  the  Trustees  in  the  ship  ''  Prince 
of  Wales,"  which  vessel  left  England  in  Novem- 
ber, 1734,  and  arrived  in  Georgia  the  early- 
part  of  the  next  year.  This  expedition,  which 
consisted  of  fifty-seven  persons,  was  conducted 
by  Mr.  Vatt.  On  reaching  Savannah,  they  im- 
mediately set  out  to  join  their  brethren  at  their 
new  town.  They  were  kindly  received,  and  pro- 
vision made  for  them  as  far  as  the  means  of  the 
colonists  would  warrant.  It  was  with  difficulty, 
however,  that  they  could  be  furnished  with  lodg- 
ings, and  the  stock  of  food  in  the  colony  was 
not  very  abundant.  Nevertheless,  by  this  ac- 
cession to  their  numbers,  the  colonists  were 
greatly  benefited,  for  among  the  new  comers 
were  many  mechanics,  whose  labours  were  of 
essential  service.  By  their  aid,  planks  were  soon 
sawed,  timber  hewed,  boards  and  shingles  split, 
and  the  good  people  went  cheerfully  to  work  to 
improve  their  dwellings.  As  to  their  church, 
they  were  compelled  as  yet  to  worship  in  a  large 
wooden  tent,  which  during  a  part  of  the  time 
had  been  the  residence  of  their  ministers.  By 
degrees,  many  of  their  houses  were  finished;  and 
here  in  the  wilderness  of  Georgia,  upon  the 
very  borders  of  an  Indian  tribe,  sprung  up  a 
thrifty  little  town,  with  its  humble  cottages ;  and 
here,  far  away  from  the  abodes  of  civilization,  a 
Christian  community  was  established,  in  which 
the  pure  doctrines  of  the  gospel  were  taught, 


72  THE   SALZBURGERS 


and  God  was  worshipped  in  the  simplicity  and 
sincerity  which  characterized  the  first  ages  of 
the  church.  Would  to  God  that  this  state  of 
things  had  always  continued !  That  it  did  not, 
was  not  attributable  to  any  want  of  fidelity  on 
the  part  of  their  religious  teachers,  or  to  any 
heterodoxy  in  doctrine  or  laxity  of  discipline. 
But  it  will  not  do  to  anticipate  the  future. 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  73 


CHAPTER  IV. 

General  Oglethorpe  visits  England — Favourable  condition  of  tho 
colony — Trustees  determine  to  send  out  reinforcements — Aid 
from  British  Parliament — Character  of  the  colonists  engaged — 
Highlanders  and  Salzburgers — Liberal  terms  proposed  by  the 
Trustees — Captain  Ilerrasdorff  and  Baron  Von  Reck — The  Trus- 
tees charter  tho  "London  Merchant"  and  the  "Symond" — The 
"great  embarkation" — English  and  German  emigrants — Mora- 
vians under  Bishop  Nitschman — John  and  Charles  Wesley — 
Departure  from  England — Storm  at  sea — Effect  of  the  conduct 
of  the  Germans  upon  Mr.  ^Yesley — Testimony  of  Dr.  Jackson, 
President  of  British  Conference — Mr.  Wesley's  spiritual  condi- 
tion— Conference  with  Mr.  Spangenburg — Influence  of  the  Mo- 
ravians— Rev.  Peter  Boehler — Salzburgers  confounded  with  the 
Moravians — Mistake  of  Mr.  Bancroft — Removal  of  Moravians 
to  Pennsylvania — Mr.  Wesley's  religious  experience — Extract 
from  his  journal — Subsequent  visit  to  England — His  conversion 
— Luther's  preface  to  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans — Mr.  Wesley's 
preaching  after  his  conversion — Forms  "  Societies,"  the  basis 
of  Wesleyan  Methodism — The  Methodist  Church  a  fruit  of  the 
Lutheran  Reformation — Arrival  of  the  "  embarkation"  at  Sa- 
vannah— Settlement  of  Salzburgers  on  St.  Simon's  Island — 
Views  of  the  Germans  in  relation  to  war — Reinforcement  at 
Ebenezer — Lutheran  settlement  at  Frederica — Rev.  U.  Dreisler 
— Revs.  Bolzius  and  Gronau  visit  Savannah — Conference  with 
General  Oglethorpe — Salzburgers  dissatisfied  with  their  location, 
and  desire  a  change — General  Oglethorpe  visits  Ebenezer — 
Reasons  of  the  Salzburgers  for  desiring  to  remove — General 
Oglethorpe's  advice  and  kindness  to  the  Salzburgers — Change 
of  location  determined  upon. 

The  aifairs  of  the  colonists,  both  at  Savannah 
and  at  Ebenezer,  being  considered  in  a  favour- 

7 


^4  THE    SALZBUrtGEPvS 


able  condition,  General  Oglethorpe  determinecl 
to  visit  his  friends  in  England.  Taking  with 
him  a  number  of  Indians  and  other  persons,  he 
departed  from  Savannah  in  the  winter  of  1734, 
and  arrived  in  England  early  the  following 
spring.  His  representations  to  the  Trustees  of 
the  flattering  prospects  of  their  colony,  induced 
that  honourable  body  to  resolve  upon  strength- 
ening it  by  sending  out  new  settlers,  and  by 
taking  the  necessary  steps  to  provide  for  its 
greater  security. 

In  July,  1735,  publication  was  made,  that  the 
Trustees  would  provide  for  the  transportation 
of  a  given  number  of  such  persons  as  might  be 
approved  by  them.  The  terms  proposed  were 
so  liberal,  and  the  success  of  the  colony  being 
no  longer  a  matter  of  doubt,  upward  of  twelve 
hundred  persons  made  application  to  be  sent 
over  to  Georgia.  Though  the  funds  of  the 
Trustees  had  been  greatly  increased  by  the  very 
liberal  grant  from  the  British  Parliament  of 
.£26,000,  yet  they  did  not  feel  warranted  in 
giving  encouragement  to  any  but  worthy  per- 
sons, and  such  as  would  be  likely  to  prove  of 
advantage  to  the  colony.  It  was  therefore  re- 
solved that  this  embarkation  should  consist 
chiefly  of  the  Highlanders  from  Scotland  and 
the  persecuted  Salzburgers  from  Germany. 

In  accordance  with  this  determination,  the 
Trustees  invited  one  hundred  Germans  from  the 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS. 


city  of  Ratisbon  to  remove  to  Georgia,  and  set- 
tle under  their  patronage.  They  engaged  to 
give  them  a  free  passage,  with  an  ample  supply 
of  sea-stores,  and  a  freehold  of  fifty  acres  of 
land  to  every  settler,  together  with  such  an  out- 
fit of  clothes,  tools,  and  farming  utensils,  as 
might  be  deemed  necessary.  To  these  propo- 
sals the  Salzburgers  consented,  and  about  eighty 
of  them,  under  the  conduct  of  Captain  Ilerms- 
dorf  and  Baron  Von  Reck,  repaired  to  England 
to  avail  themselves  of  the  liberality  of  the 
Trustees. 

A  sufficient  number  of  emigrants  having  been 
secured,  the  Trustees  chartered  for  their  trans- 
portation two  ships,  the  Symond^  of  two  hun- 
dred tons.  Captain  Joseph  Cornish,  and  the 
London  Merchant^  of  the  same  burden,  Cap- 
tain John  Thomas.  The  whole  number  consisted 
of  two  hundred  and  twenty-seven  persons.  This 
was  called  the  great  embarkation.  Besides  the 
Salzburgers  and  a  number  from  England,  there 
were  twenty-seven  Moravians,  under  the  care 
of  one  of  their  bishops,  the  Rev.  David  Nitsch- 
man.  General  Oglethorpe  accompanied  this  ex- 
pedition, and  took  with  him  several  English 
gentlemen  of  distinction.  Among  the  passen- 
gers were  Messrs.  John  and  Charles  Wesley, 
the  former  of  whom  was  going  to  Georgia,  by 
invitation  of  General  Oglethorpe,  to  preach  the 
gospel  to  the  Indians,  and  to  improve,  as  far  as 


76  THE    SALZBURGERS 


might  be  practicable,  the  moral  and  religious 
condition  of  the  colony. 

The  Symond  and  the  London  Merchant  sailed 
from  Gravesend  on  the  20th  of  October,  1735, 
under  convoy  of  His  Majesty's  sloop-of-war 
Hawk,  Captain  Gascoine.  It  was  not,  however, 
until  the  10th  of  December  that  they  passed 
the  Needles,  and  lost  sight  of  the  English  coast. 
This  voyage  was  a  long  and  tempestuous  one. 
There  were  frequent  and  violent  storms,  and  on 
several  occasions  the  vessels  were  in  imminent 
danger  of  being  shipwrecked.  During  one  of 
these  terrible  gales,  an  incident  occurred,  the 
results  of  which  will  in  all  probability  be  felt 
until  the  end  of  time. 

It  has  been  noticed  that  among  the  passen- 
gers were  Messrs.  John  and  Charles  Wesley. 
The  former  had  received  orders  in  the  Church 
of  England,  and  was  now  on  his  voyage  to  en- 
gage in  the  duties  of  his  high  vocation.  The 
German  passengers,  by  their  humble  piety,  had 
attracted  Mr.  Wesley's  attention,  and  awakened 
in  his  mind  special  interest  on  their  behalf; 
and  God,  in  his  providence,  seems  to  have 
designed  that  they  were  to  exercise  an  im- 
portant influence  upon  his  religious  character 
and  his  future  history.  On  a  Sabbath,  about 
noon,  while  the  Salzburgers  and  other  Germans 
were  engaged  in  public  worship,  a  storm  sud- 
denly arose,  which  seems  to  have  surpassed  in 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDAXTS.  77 


violence  every  other  that  occurred  during  the 
voyage.  Amid  the  commotion  of  the  elements 
nearly  every  heart  quaked,  and  some  almost 
died  with  fear.  Mr.  Wesley  himself  was 
seriously  alarmed  at  the  imminent  peril  in 
which  he  and  his  fellow-passengers  were  placed. 
Notwithstanding  his  Christian  profession,  and  his 
relation  to  the  church  as  one  of  her  accredited 
ministers,  there  was  something  wanting  in  his 
spiritual  experience  to  fortify  his  mind  against 
the  fear  of  death.  But  far  otherwise  were  the 
feelings  of  the  pious  Salzburgers  and  Moravians. 
While  the  tempest  raged  and  the  swelling  billows 
threatened  to  engulf  them,  they  calmly  sang  the 
praises  of  God,  and  manifested  the  most  per- 
fect self-composure  and  exemption  from  all  fear, 
under  the  most  appalling  circumstances. 

When  the  tempest  had  subsided,  Mr.  Wesley 
inquired  of  one  of  the  Germans,  "Were  you  not 
afraid?"  He  mildly  replied,  "I  thank  God,  no!" 
"But  were  not  your  women  and  children  afraid?" 
He  answered,  "No!  our  women  and  children 
are  not  afraid  to  die  !"  Dr.  Jackson,  President 
of  the  British  Conference,  speaking  of  this  oc- 
currence in  his  Centenary  of  Methodism,  re- 
marks :  "  In  these  strangers  the  English  Metho- 
dists beheld  Christianity  in  a  light  more  gentle, 
attractive,  and  consoling  than  that  in  which 
they  had  ever  before  seen  it. 

"  In  storms  and  hurricanes,  when  others  were 
"7* 


19  THE   8ALZBURQERS 


ready  to  die  "with  fear,  they  calmly  sang  the 
praises  of  God,  expressing  a  cheerful  confidence 
and  resignation  in  the  prospect  of  immediately 
perishing  in  the  great  deep.  With  the  tempers 
of  these  people  the  Wesleys  "\Yere,  at  this  time, 
personally  unacquainted.  Neither  of  them  -was 
delivered  from  the  fear  of  death,  and  they  had 
no  just  conception  of  the  holy  cheerfulness 
■which  is  produced  by  an  application  of  the  blood 
of  Christ  to  the  conscience,  and  the  abiding 
witness  and  operations  of  the  heavenly  Com- 
forter. Theirs  was  a  religion  of  fear  and  mor- 
tification, rather  than  of  holy  peace  and  joy." 

It  was  under  these  circumstances  that  Mr. 
Wesley's  attention  was  for  the  first  time  arrested 
to  his  spiritual  condition ;  and  now  he  realized 
what  he  had  never  done  before,  the  groundless- 
ness of  his  religious  hopes,  and  his  destitution 
of  that  religious  faith  which  is  necessary  to 
justify  the  sinner  and  impart  perfect  peace  to 
the  mind. 

The  impressions  made  upon  Mr.  Wesley  by 
the  conduct  of  these  Germans  during  the  voyage 
were  strengthened  upon  his  arrival  at  Savannah. 
Here  he  "vjas  introduced  to  Mr.  Spangenburg, 
one  of  the  Moravian  pastors,  who  had  reached 
that  place  some  time  previously.  Mr.  Wesley 
immediately  applied  to  this  devoted  man  for  ad- 
vice in  reference  to  his  future  course.  Mr. 
Spangenburg,  in  complying  with  Mr.  Wesley's 


AND   THEIK    DESCENDANTS.  79 


"wishes,  questioned  him  very  closely  concerning 
his  religious  experience.  This  conversation, 
while  it  revealed  more  fully  to  Mr.  Wesley  his 
ignorance  of  experimental  religion,  also  ex- 
plained the  cause  of  those  fears  which  he  had 
experienced  during  the  storm  at  sea.  <'  His 
heart  was  not  yet  right  in  the  sight  of  God." 

It  will  not  be  denied  that  Mr.  Wesley  re- 
ceived more  instruction  from  the  Moravians  than 
from  the  Salzburgers ;  and  he  himself  declares 
that  he  had  derived  more  light  from  the  Rev. 
Peter  Boehler  than  from  any  other  man  with 
whom  he  had  ever  conversed.  But  still  it  will 
be  manifest  to  every  impartial  mind  that  is  fami- 
liar with  all  the  facts,  that  Mr.  Wesley  beheld 
in  the  persons  of  the  Germans  who  were  his 
fellow-passengers,  and  by  far  the  great  majority 
of  whom  were  Salzburgers,  the  first  practical 
illustration  of  the  happy  influence  of  genuine 
piety  upon  the  disposition,  affections,  and  gene- 
ral deportment  of  those  who  have  experienced 
it.  Whatever  benefit  Mr.  Wesley  may  have 
subsequently  received  from  the  Moravians,  and 
especially  from  Mr.  Boehler,  it  is  clear,  that  it 
was  through  his  intercourse  with  the  Salzbur- 
gers and  other  Germans  at  sea,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances already  mentioned,  that  he  obtained 
views  of  the  true  state  of  his  own  soul  which 
he  had  never  before  experienced,  and  realized 
for  the  first  time  his  want  of  that  acceptance 


80  THE    SAL2DURGER3 


with  God  which  is  necessary  to  tranquillize  the 
heart,  and  give  serenity  to  the  conscience,  under 
all  the  varied  circumstances  of  life. 

The  question  might  be  asked,  why  does  Mr. 
Wesley  make  such  particular  mention  of  the  "  Mo- 
ravians," and  the  instructions  which  he  had  re- 
ceived from  their  pastors,  while  he  says  nothing 
of  the  Salzburgers,  who  were  Lutherans  ?  The 
answer  to  this  question  is,  that  Mr.  "Wesley 
seems  not  to  have  distinguished  the  former 
from  the  latter,  their  characters  being  so  very 
similar ;  and  hence  he  speaks  of  them  all  as 
"Germans." 

A  similar  error  has  been  committed  by  Mr. 
Bancroft  in  his  history  of  the  United  States. 
In  every  instance  in  which  he  speaks  of  the 
German  colonists  at  Ebenezer,  he  calls  them 
"Moravians."  It  is  time  that  these  false  im- 
pressions had  been  removed. 

The  Moravians  never  made  any  permanent 
settlement  in  Georgia.  When  the  Spanish  war 
broke  out,  they  removed,  almost  to  a  man,  to 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  because  it  was  con- 
trary to  their  religious  faith  to  take  up  arms  in 
any  cause.  Hence,  they  never  left  the  impress 
of  their  peculiar  tenets  and  usages  upon  any  por- 
tion of  the  colony. 

Beside  this,  the  pastors  of  the  Moravians 
were  with  them,  and  it  was  very  natural  that 
Mr.  Wesley  should  look  to  them  for  instruction ; 


AND    TIIEin    DESCENDANTS.  81 


but  the  Salzburgers  were  unaccompanied  by 
any  spiritual  teacher,  their  pastors  having  been 
settled  at  Ebenezer  for  nearly  two  years.  Now, 
whatever  may  haTc  been  the  causes  operating 
upon  Mr.  Wesley  afterward,  and  by  what  means 
soever  he  was  more  fully  indoctrinated  in  the 
essential  pi-inciples  of  Christianity,  it  must  still 
remain  true,  that  it  was  at  sea,  while  sailing 
with  the  German  emigrants,  that  the  practical 
influence  of  evangelical  religion  was  first  real- 
ized by  him;  and  it  may  not  be  assuming  too 
much  to  express  the  opinion  that,  but  for  his 
intercourse  with  the  Salzhurgers  and  other  Ger- 
mans, connected  with  the  peculiar  incidents  of 
this  voyage,  he  might  have  long  remained  un- 
conscious of  his  spiritual  condition,  and  he 
might  possibly  never  have  realized  it.  For,  as 
he  himself  remarks,  "I  was  ignorant  of  the  na- 
ture of  saving  faith,  apprehending  it  to  mean  no 
more  than  a  firm  assent  to  all  the  propositions 
contained  in  the  Old  and  New  Testament." 

Two  years  after  his  first  visit  to  Georgia,  Mr. 
Wesley  returned  to  England,  and  shortly  after 
his  arrival  he  made  the  following  note  in  his 
journal:  " It  is  now  two  years  and  nearly  four 
months  since  I  went  to  America  to  teach  the 
Georgia  Indians  the  nature  of  Christianity ;  but 
what  have  I  learned  of  myself  in  the  mean 
time  ?  why  (what  of  all  I  least  expected)  that  I, 
who  went  to  America  to  convert  others,  was 


^  -     THE    SALZBURGERS 


never  myself  converted  to  God."  It  is  a  mat- 
ter of  history,  that  subsequently  Mr.  Wesley 
was  converted  at  a  prayer-meeting,  which  he 
attended  among  the  Moravians  in  Aldersgate 
street,  London,  while  one  was  reading  Luther's 
preface  to  Paul's  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  in 
which  the  great  Reformer  has  given  such  a 
clear  elucidation  of  the  doctrine  of  justification 
hy  faith. 

No  sooner  was  Mr.  "Wesley  converted,  than 
he  commenced  to  preach  the  great  doctrines  of 
repentance  and  faith,  and  the  necessity  of  a 
radical  change  of  heart  and  life  to  all  who 
would  secure  their  salvation.  The  proclama- 
tion of  these  doctrines  in  England,  where  reli- 
gion in  the  Established  Church  had  degenerated 
into  a  lifeless  formality,  together  with  the  ear- 
nest and  convincing  manner  in  which  he  enforced 
them,  aroused  against  him  so  strong  a  prejudice, 
that  he  was,  as  if  by  common  consent,  excluded 
from  the  churches  of  the  Establishment,  and  was 
compelled  to  preach  in  the  open  air.  One 
measure  naturally  led  to  another,  and  soon  Mr. 
Wesley  found  it  necessary  to  form  those  "  So- 
cieties" which  afterward  became  the  basis  of 
that  ecclesiastical  organization  known  as  "  Wes- 
leyan  Methodism;"  a  system,  whose  beneficial 
effects  upon  the  spiritual  condition  of  the  world, 
have  been  seen  and  felt  in  almost  every  part  of 
the  globe,  and  will  no  doubt  continue  to  exert  a 


AND    TTIKIR    DESCENDANTS.  83 


wider  and  still  wider  influence  until  the  end  of 
time. 

It  is,  therefore,  not  assuming  too  much,  to  say 
that  Mr.  Wesley's  conversion  and  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Methodist  Church  may  be  regarded 
as  the  legitimate  fruits  of  the  Lutheran  Refor- 
mation. And  it  is  an  easy  matter,  in  this  view 
of  the  subject,  to  account  for  the  striking  simi- 
larity which  exists  between  the  doctrines  of  the 
Lutheran  and  Methodist  churches. 

In  contemplating  these  occurrences,  we  are 
constrained  to  admire  the  mysterious  combina- 
tion of  circumstances  by  which  God  accom- 
plishes some  of  his  most  gracious  purposes. 
We  see  in  the  German  exiles,  who  were  fellow- 
passengers  with  Mr.  Wesley,  a  band  of  faithful 
disciples,  flying  from  religious  intolerance  in  the 
land  of  their  nativity,  and  seeking  for  freedom 
of  conscience  in  a  distant  country.  Going  forth 
upon  their  pilgrimage,  they  are,  in  the  providence 
of  God,  brought  in  contact  with  a  personage 
of  great  genius  and  learning,  upon  whose  heart 
their  exemplary  deportment  and  calm  and  hea- 
venly temperament  make  a  lasting  impression ; 
and  he  subsequently  becomes,  through  the  trans- 
forming power  of  the  gospel,  a  chosen  instru- 
ment, by  which  is  put  in  motion  the  greatest 
moral  revolution  that  has  occurred  since  the 
Reformation  by  Luther.  Thus,  while  the  Chris- 
tian pilgrim  wanders  to  and  fro  in   the  earth, 


84  THE   SALZBURGERS 


an  outcast  from  bis  country,  and  exposed  to  pri- 
vation and  danger,  he  is  made  to  sow,  broad-cast 
as  it  were,  tbe  seed  of  divine  truth ;  and  the  fruit 
of  that  sowing  is  seen  increasing  from  gene- 
ration to  generation,  and  extending  even  to 
the  latest  period  of  time.  Thus  strangely,  yet 
wisely,  does  God  execute  his  merciful  designs. 
"  Oh  the  depth  of  riches,  both  of  the  wisdom 
and  knowledge  of  God!  How  unsearchable 
are  his  judgments,  and  his  ways  past  finding 
out!" 

But  we  must  resume  the  thread  of  our  narra- 
tive. The  whole  embarkation  reached  Georgia 
in  safety,  early  in  the  month  of  February,  1736. 
General  Oglethorpe  proceeded  immediately  to 
arrange  the  colonists,  and  to  send  them  to  their 
respective  places  of  destination.  It  would  ap- 
pear that  it  was  originally  designed  that  a  great 
portion  of  the  Salzburgers  who  came  over  at  this 
time  were  to  go  to  the  southward,  and  aid  in 
establishing  the  town  of  Frederica,  on  St.  Simon's 
Island,  where  it  was  proposed  also  to  erect  a 
fort  and  plant  a  garrison,  to  protect  the  frontier 
settlements.  As,  however,  the  Salzburgers  mani- 
fested an  unwillingness  to  go  to  the  south. 
General  Oglethorpe  did  not  insist  upon  it.  The 
reasons  assigned  by  these  pious  men  for  this 
course  were,  that  from  the  rumours  which  they 
had  heard  of  the  threatened  invasion  of  Georgia 
by  the  Spaniards,  their  position  at  Frederica 


AND  THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  85 


might  render  it  necessary  for  them  to  take  up 
arms,  and  as  "  fighting  was  against  their  reli- 
gion," they  preferred  not  to  place  themselves  in 
a  situation  -where  they  would  be  compelled  to  do 
violence  to  their  consciences.  Besides,  at  the 
new  settlement  there  would  be  no  church,  at  least 
not  for  some  time,  and  they  therefore  preferred 
to  go  to  Ebenezer,  where  a  congregation  of 
their  own  people  was  already  organized,  and 
they  could  enjoy  the  instructions  of  the  two 
pious  ministers  who  resided  there.  However, 
although  this  was  the  feeling  of  the  great  mass 
of  Germans,  Captain  Hermsdorf  succeeded  in 
raising  a  small  company  of  volunteers,  and  they 
offered  their  services  to  General  Oglethorpe, 
who  requested  that  they  might  be  put  upon  any 
service  that  might  be  deemed  necessary.  This 
company  was  accordingly  ordered  to  Frederica^, 
to  aid  in  the  defence  of  that  place.  It  became 
the  nucleus  for  a  Lutheran  church,  which  was 
organized  in  1735,  under  the  pastoral  care  of 
the  Rev.  Ulrich  Driesler,  a  German  missionary, 
sent  over  by  the  Trustees,  and  supported  from 
their  funds. 

From  the  conduct  of  the  Salzburgers  on  this 
occasion,  we  may  learn  something  of  the  spirit 
which  governed  all  their  actions.  Their  reli- 
gion taught  them  that  war  is  inconsistent  with 
the  genius  of  Christianity,  and  is  therefore  to 
be  avoided.    As  their  spiritual  improvement  was 


88  THE   SALZBURGERS 


of  more  importance  than  any  worldly  advan- 
tages which  they  might  enjoy  in  other  portions 
of  the  colony,  they  chose  to  relinquish  these  ad- 
vantages, rather  than  forego  the  enjoyment  of 
the  preached  word  and  the  ordinances  of  the 
sanctuary.  For  these  reasons  the  great  majority 
of  the  Germans  were  allowed  to  go  to  Ebenezer, 
which  they  did  without  delay.  Their  arrival 
was  hailed  with  much  joy,  and  many  were  the 
kind  greetings  which  these  brethren  exchanged 
upon  being  brought  together  under  such  favour- 
able auspices.  Thus,  from  the  12th  of  March, 
1734,  to  the  8th  of  February,  1736,  the  day  on 
which  this  last  company  arrived,  about  two  hun- 
dred Salzburgers  were  settled  at  Ebenezer. 

About  this  time  Messrs.  Bolzius  and  Gronau 
visited  Savannah,  to  confer  with  General  Ogle- 
thorpe in  reference  to  the  propriety  of  changing 
the  location  of  the  town.  These  gentlemen 
stated  that  there  was  very  great  dissatisfaction 
among  their  people;  and  they  represented  the 
colony  at  Ebenezer  as  being  in  such  an  unfa- 
vourable condition,  that  the  general  deemed  it 
advisable  for  him  to  visit  that  place  immediately. 
For  this  purpose  he  set  out  on  the  10th  of  Feb- 
ruary, in  company  with  the  two  ministers. 

On  reaching  Ebenezer,  where  he  was  received 
with  every  mark  of  consideration  due  to  his  sta- 
tion, he  patiently  inquired  into  the  causes  of 
discontent  among  the  people.  These  were  various. 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  87 


They  had  been  disappointed  in  the  character  of 
the  soil,  and  their  lands  had  not  yielded  thera 
any  thing  like  an  adequate  support.  The  climate 
had  proved  very  unhealty,  and  many  of  their 
numbers  had  fallen  victims  to  disease.  Besides, 
the  impracticability  of  navigating  to  any  advan- 
tage the  stream  upon  which  their  town  was 
located,  rendered  their  situation  peculiarly  dis- 
tressing. 

These  reasons  were  not  without  w^eight,  espe- 
cially the  latter.  Here  it  may  not  be  improper 
to  inform  the  reader  of  the  character  of  the 
watercourse  upon  which  the  Salzburgers  origi- 
nally settled.  It  is  not  properly  a  river,  but  a 
creek,  which  at  times  is  swollen  to  a  considerable 
size;  and  there  is  in  Georgia  hardly  another 
stream  so  serpentine  in  its  course,  and  so  diflS- 
cult  to  traverse.  Some  idea  may  be  formed  on 
this  subject,  when  it  is  stated  that  although 
the  distance  from  old  Ebenezer  to  the  Savannah 
river  by  land  does  not  exceed  six  miles,  the  dis- 
tance by  the  course  of  the  creek  is  not  less  than 
tiventy-jive.  Farms  situated  on  its  banks  within 
two  and  three  miles  of  each  other,  cannot  be 
reached  by  water  without  travelling  five  to  eight 
miles.  It  will  thus  be  seen,  that  the  difficulty 
of  navigating  this  creek,  which  was  the  only  out- 
let to  the  Savannah  river,  did  furnish  reasonable 
cause  for  dissatisfaction.  The  other  grounds 
of  complaint  were  equally  worthy  of  considera- 


SB  THE    SALZBURGERS 


tion.  There  had  been  considerable  mortality 
among  the  settlers,  and  the  products  of  their 
farms  had  been  so  inadequate  to  their  -wants, 
that,  but  for  the  occasional  supplies  furnished  by 
the  Trustees  from  the  public  stores,^  their  situa- 
tion would  have  been  very  deplorable. 

General  Oglethorpe  listened  patiently  to  all 
the  statements  of  the  Salzburgers,  and  then  coun- 
selled them  with  the  kindness  and  frankness  of 
an  affectionate  parent.  He  admitted  that  their 
dissatisfaction  was  not  groundless,  and  that  there 
were  many  embarrassments  connected  with  their 
situation  ;  but  still  their  situation  was  not  without 
its  advantages.  They  had  cleared  their  lands, 
erected  dwellings,  and  made  considerable  pro- 
gress with  their  town.  If  now  they  should  re- 
move, such  a  measure  would  be  attended  with 
great  trouble  and  privation.  The  labour  which 
they  had  expended  would  be  all  lost,  and  their  cir- 
cumstances, now  sufficiently  embarrassing,  would 
be  rendered  still  more  so  by  the  inconveniences 
and  hardships  of  making  a  new  settlement.  He 
was  also  satisfied,  from  his  acquaintance  with  the 
situation  of  the  country  to  which  they  desired 
to  remove,  that  as  soon  as  the  forests  should  be 
cleared,  and  the  lands  brought  under  cultivation, 
they  would  again  be  subject  to  the  diseases  pecu- 
liar to  the  climate,  and  would  be  forced  to  leave 
the  neighbourhood.  Still,  if  they  persisted  in 
their  wishes,  he   would  not  oppose  them,  but 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  89 


would  assist  them,  as  far  as  practicable,  in  car- 
rying out  their  designs.  Subsequent  events 
proved  too  painfully,  the  foresight  and  correct 
judgment  of  General  Oglethorpe,  and  what  was 
then  merely  an  opinion^  is  now  a  matter  of  his- 
tory.  The  general,  having  discharged  his  duty, 
in  giving  the  Salzburgers  such  advice  as  waa 
called  for  by  the  occasion,  returned  to  Savannah, 
and  left  them  to  adopt  such  measures  as  they 
might  deem  most  likely  to  promote  their  com- 
fort and  their  interest. 

Immediately  upon  the  departure  of  General 
Oglethorpe,  the  Salzburgers  held  a  consultation 
in  reference  to  the  expediency  of  seeking  a  new 
settlement.  After  giving  the  subject  a  serious 
and  prayerful  consideration,  it  was  decided  that 
it  was  not  only  desirable,  but  absolutely  indis- 
pensable to  the  prosperity  of  the  colony,  to  seek 
a  more  favourable  locality.  Thus,  after  remain 
ing  at  old  Ebenezer  for  only  two  years,  it  was 
found  necessary  to  abandon  it. 


8* 


^  THE   SALZBURGER3. 


CHAPTER  V. 

New  Ebcnezcr — Its  location,  and  the  plan  upon  which  it  was  laid 
out— -The  environs  of  the  town — Its  rapid  growth— Municipal 
and  other  regulations— Rules  originally  adopted  for  the  govern- 
ment of  the  congregation — The  duties  of  pastors  set  forth — 
Elders  and  wardens — Parochial  schools — Church  members,  &c. 
— Dr.  H.  M.  Muhlenberg — Salaries  of  the  pastors — Their  re- 
sponsibilities— Relation  to  the  church  in  Germany — Sale  of  rum 
prohibited,  and  the  introduction  of  Negro  slaves — Effects  of 
these  regulations  on  the  colony  at  Ebenezer — Mr.  Bolzius, 
Rev.  George  Whitfield,  and  Baron  Von  Reck  on  slavery — Posi- 
tion of  Mr.  Bolzius — Views  of  Hon.  James  Habersham  and 
Rev.  S.  Urlsperger— Controversy  settled,  and  slavery  allowed — 
The  Salzburgers  and  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Germany — Libe- 
rality of  the  latter — Education — "Bethany"  church — Favour- 
able condition  of  the  settlement — Religious  character  of  the 
inhabitants — Their  industry,  frugality,  &c. — Letter  of  Mr.  Bol- 
zius— Rev.  George  Whitefield  at  Ebenezer — His  testimony  in 
favour  of  the  Salzburgers — He  visits  the  Orphan  House — Let- 
ter of  Thomas  Jones — Principal  settlers  at  Ebenezer,  up  to 
1741 — The  invasion  of  Georgia  by  Spaniards — Another  letter 
of  Mr.  Bolzius — Extracts  from  his  journal — Statement  of  Mr. 
Benjamin  Martyn — New  arrivals — Emigrants  bind  themselves 
as  servants — Frederick  Helfenstein — Lutheran  church  in  Sa- 
vannah founded — Rev.  U.  Driesler — His  death — Rev.  Mr. 
Zublii — The  town  of  Frederica — Dr.  H.  M.  Muhlenberg  visits 
Ebenezer — Mr.  Gronau — "  Jerusalem"  church  at  Ebenezer — 
"Zion's"  church — Extracts  from  Mr.  Bolzius'  journal— Death 
of  Mr.  Gronau. 

The  site  selected  for  a  new  town  was  on  a 
high  vidgc  within  a  short  distance  of  the  river, 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  91 


and  -which,  from  the  peculiar  colour  of  the  soil 
on  the  margin  of  the  water,  was  called  "  Red 
Bluff."  The  spot  was  quite  a  romantic  one.  On 
the  east,  lay  the  Savannah  with  its  hroad,  smooth 
surface,  and  its  ever-varying  and  beautiful 
scenery.  On  the  south  was  a  small  stream,  then 
called  Little  Creek,  but  now  known  as  Lockner's 
Creek,  and  a  large  lake  called  "  Neidlinger's 
Sea."  While  to  the  north,  not  very  distant 
from  the  town,  was  to  be  seen  their  old  acquaint- 
ance, Ebenezcr  Creek,  sluggishly  winding  its 
way  to  mingle  with  the  waters  of  the  Savannah. 
The  surrounding  country  was  gently  undulating, 
and  covered  with  a  fine  growth  of  forest-trees, 
while  the  jessamine,  the  woodbine,  and  the  beau- 
tiful azalia,  with  its  variety  of  gaudy  colours, 
added  a  peculiar  richness  to  the  picturesque 
scene.  But  unfortunately  for  the  permament 
prosperity  of  the  town,  it  was  surrounded  on 
three  sides  by  low  swamps,  which  were  subject 
to  periodical  inundation,  and  consequently  gene- 
rated a  poisonous  miasma  prejudicial  to  the 
health  of  the  inhabitants. 

The  new  town  was  laid  off  after  the  plan  of 
the  city  of  Savannah,  and  covered  an  area  of  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  square.  This  space  was  di- 
vided into  small  squares,  each  containing  ten 
building  lots,  and  the  latter  numbered  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty.  Three  wide  streets  passed 
through  the  town  from  cast  to  west,  which  were 


92  THE   SALZBURGERS 


intersected  at  right  angles  by  four  others  run- 
ning from  north  to  south ;  beside  which  there 
were  a  number  of  narrow  lanes,  but  these  ex- 
tended in  only  one  direction — -north  and  south* 
Four  squares  were  appropriated  to  the  sale  of 
produce,  and  called  '<  market-places,"  and  four 
were  reserved  as  public  parks  or  promenade 
grounds.  Two-thirds  of  a  square  were  appro- 
priated to  the  church,  parsonage,  and  academy, 
and  an  equal  quantity  to  the  orphan  asylum  and 
the  public  storehouse  respectively.  On  the 
east,  a  short  distance  from  the  town,  was  the 
cemetery.  On  the  north  and  east  was  a  large 
pasture  for  cattle,  and  on  the  south  was  one  for 
sheep  and  goats.  On  the  north  and  south,  gar- 
den-lots were  laid  out,  and  still  farther  south, 
beyond  Little  Creek  and  Mill  Creek,  and  upon 
their  waters,  the  farms  were  located,  each  farm 
consisting  of  fifty  acres.  The  country  to  the 
north,  beyond  Ebenezer  Creek,  was  occupied 
by  the  Uchee  Indians,  that  section  not  having 
been  included  in  any  of  the  grants  made  by 
them  to  the  Trustees.  The  whole  plan  of  the 
town,  with  its  environs,  was  well  conceived,  and 
one  can  but  admire  the  great  judgment  displayed 
in  the  whole  arrangement. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  years,  Ebenezer  be- 
gan to  give  evidences  of  its  future  growth  and 
prosperity.  Houses  were  again  erected.  Gar- 
dens and  farms  were  enclosed  and  brought  under 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  93 


cultivation,  and  the  community  assumed  an  air 
of  great  activity  and  industry.  Whether  it  was 
owing  to  the  want  of  means,  or  materials,  or 
both,  there  was  no  church  erected  here  for  seve- 
ral years  ;  as,  however,  funds  had  been  received 
from  Germany  for  the  establishment  of  an 
orphan  asylum,  and  as  that  building  was  among 
the  first  that  was  erected,  it  was  temporarily 
used  as  a  place  of  worship. 

Having  now  described  the  location  of  <'Eben- 
ezer"  and  its  environs,  it  may  be  proper  here  to 
notice  the  government  under  which  the  colony 
was  placed.  As  a  religious  community,  the 
Salzburgers  may  be  properly  viewed  as  a  mis- 
sionary station,  under  the  fostering  care  of  the 
English  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  Christian 
Knowledge,  and  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church 
in  Germany.  It  was  required  of  the  pastors 
and  each  member  of  the  congregation  to  sub- 
scribe to  the  "Augsburg  Confession"  and  the 
<'  Symbolical  Books,"  and  to  submit  to  a  code 
of  regulations  drawn  up  by  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Urlsperger  of  Augsburg,  Rev.  Frederick  M.  Zei- 
genhagen  of  London,  and  Rev.  Gotthelf  Augustus 
Franckd  of  Halle.  These  regulations  were  pre- 
pared in  1733,  and  continued  in  force,  with  some 
few  alterations,  (which  were  made  principally  by 
Dr.  Muhlenburg,  in  1774,)  until  1843.  It  is  not 
asserting  too  much  to  say,  that  no  better  church- 


^4  THE   SALZBURGERS 


discipline  is  needed  than  that  laid  down  in  these 
regulations. 

We  insert  here  a  copy  of  the  original  rules, 
with  a  view  to  show  the  character  of  the  disci- 
pline which  our  pious  forefathers  adopted  for 
the  government  of  the  churches.  It  is  worthy 
of  preservation,  both  on  account  of  its  antiquity 
and  its  intrinsic  excellence.     It  reads  thus  : 

"In  the  name  of  God: — The  fundamental  constitution, 
articles,  and  rules  upon  vrhich  a  German  Evangelical 
Lutheran  congregation  was  formally  established,  upon 
the  basis  of  the  Holy  Bible,  our  Augsburg  Confession, 
(and  the  other  Symbolical  Books,)  since  the  year  1733, 
in  and  about  Ebenezer,  in  His  Great  Britannic  Majesty's 
province  of  Georgia ;  and  which  were  unanimously  ap- 
proved, confirmed,  and  unalterably  determined  upon,  un- 
der hand  and  seal,  by  the  reverened  founders,  viz.  Messrs. 
Samuel  Urlsperger,  Frederick  Michael  Zeigenhagen,  Gott- 
helf  Augustus  Francke,  most  worthy  members  of  the 
venerable  society  in  England,  instituted  for  the  promo- 
tion of  the  knowledge  of  Christ;  together  with  the  first 
ministers,  elders,  deacons,  and  regular  church-members, 
His  Great  Britannic  Protestant  Majesty's  faithful  sub- 
jects. (Vide  Preface  to  the  first  article  of  the  Ameri- 
canische  Acker werck  Gottes,  p.  3.) 

CHAPTER  I. 

**  That  no  congregation  can  preserve  its  establishment 
and  regulations,  and  maintain  good  order  for  the  further- 
ance of  its  true  interests,  unless  there  be  elected  as  dea- 
cons men  who  are  members  of  the  congregation,  and 
who  have  both  the  qualifications  and  authority  to  provide 
for  the  maintenance  of  good  regulation  and  wholesome 
discipline  of  the  whole  congregation,  is  taught  by  sound 
reason,  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  experience.     Therefore, 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  95 


as  -we  are  taught  in  the  important  admonition  contained 
in  the  last  verse  of  the  fourteenth  chapter  of  1  Cor.:  '  Let 
all  things  be  done  decently  and  orderly/  (or  in  accord- 
ance with  good  regulations  and  decorum.)  And  that  we 
may  be  the  more  encouraged  to  obey  this  injunction,  the 
holy  apostle  declares,  in  the  twenty-eighth  verse  of  the 
twelfth  chapter,  preceding,  '  that  God,  being  a  God  of 
order  in  his  churches  purchased  with  a  precious  price, 
appointed  not  only  apostles,  prophets,  and  ministers,'  but 
also  adjutors  and  rulers:  that  is,  men  highly  gifted  and 
favoured,  who  have,  both  by  word  and  in  deed,  contri- 
buted, as  the  wants  and  ordinances  of  the  churches  re- 
quired, every  thing  that  was  possible  for  the  good  regu- 
lation and  the  maintainment  of  the  churches.  It  is  also 
a  fact,  clearly  taught  by  the  word  of  God,  that  such  men 
were  appointed  in  the  church  of  God,  even  in  the  Old 
Testament  dispensation,  from  the  time  of  Moses,  for  the 
purpose  of  maintaining  good  order.  Accordingly,  it  is 
in  perfect  keeping  with  the  will  of  God  and  the  example, 
not  only  of  the  primitive,  but  also  of  the  succeeding 
Christian  churches,  that  such  church  elders,  or  adjutors 
and  rulers,  have  been  jointly  elected  by  the  whole  con- 
gregation ;  also  among  us,  whose  duty  it  is  to  promote 
the  best  interests  of  this  our  parish,  as  is  directed  by  the 
English  ecclesiastical  canon.  As,  however,  our  congre- 
gation does  not  properly  belong  to  the  English  Church, 
and  consequently  cannot,  in  all  points,  exist  under  its 
ecclesiastical  canon,  but  must  enact  its  own  regulations 
for  the  worship  of  God  and  for  edification,  it  becomes 
necessary  for  the  members  of  our  congregation  to  invest 
the  proposed  church-elders,  as  is  the  practice  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  in  London,  (and  others 
which  need  not  be  mentioned,)  with  special  authority  to 
support  our  congregation ;  and  intrust  to  them  also  their 
establishments  and  regulations.  For  all  this,  if  made 
incumbent  upon  the  ministers  alone,  is  a  burden  far  too 
onerous  and  insupportable. 

"  If,  now,  men  thus  chosen  and  empowered  are  to  pro- 
mote by  word  and  in  deed,  both  the  existence  and  the 


96  THE   SALZBURGERS 


welfare  of  the  congregation,  so  that  it  may  endure  and 
Le  maintained  by  its  establishments  and  regulations  ; 
and  as  such  well-being  of  the  congregation  cannot  be 
promoted  without  means,  it  follows  quite  naturally,  that 
the  requisite  means  muat  be  placed  in  their  hands  by  the 
members  of  the  congregation,  as  is  done  by  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Congregation  in  London,  before  alluded 
to,  and  also  by  all  other  Christian  congregations. 

"  Hence,  inasmuch  as  the  government,  or  the  English 
ecclesiastical  constitution,  provides  nothing  for  this  pur- 
pose, and  as,  in  consequence  of  the  troublesome  and  war- 
like times  in  our  German  fatherland,  we  cannot,  with 
certainty,  expect  as  much  aid  as  was  received  in  former 
years  from  our  beloved  benefactors  in  Germany,  toward 
the  maintainment  of  our  church  and  school  establish- 
ments, and  also  tov.'ard  the  alleviation  of  the  wants  of 
the  poor  and  sick,  it  becomes  a  stern  demand  of  necessity, 
that  is,  the  honour  of  God  and  our  spiritual  Avelfare  re- 
quire, that  the  members  of  the  congregation  bind  them- 
selves, in  love,  mutually  to  contribute  from  year  to  year 
as  much  money  as  is  and  will  continue  to  be  requisite  to 
the  support  of  the  school-teachers,  and  the  preservation 
of  the  church  and  school  edifices  and  the  parsonage. 
Those  persons,  therefore,  who  are  members  of  the  con- 
gregation, and  who  are  desirous  of  participating  in  its 
spiritual  benefit  and  privileges,  will,  it  is  hoped,  also  be 
disposed  to  lend  their  assistance  in  bearing  the  expenses 
of  the  congregation,  by  contributing  cheerfully  their 
share  toward  the  sustainment  of  the  said  proposed  regu- 
lations and  establishments.  Those,  however,  who  are 
unwilling  to  take  upon  themselves  any  of  the  labours, 
and  who  will  not  perform  what  is  their  covenant  duty 
with  feelings  of  gratitude,  notwithstanding  their  ability 
to  do  so,  debar  themselves  and  their  families,  by  these 
very  means  from  the  congregation  and  its  spiritual  bene- 
fits ;  which  will  not  surely  tend  to  their  advantage  :  *  God 
loveth  a  cheerful  giver.'  'He  that  soweth  bountifully, 
shall  reap  also  bountifully."  2  Cor.  ix.  6,  7,  8 ;  (ix.  10.) 
Such  as  are  members  of  this  our  evangelical  congregation. 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  97 


and  arc  willing  to  contribute  as  much  as  may,  from  time 
to  time  be  found  requisite,  according  to  the  amount 
which  the  appointed  church-deacons  may  compute  and 
deem  proper,  toward  the  support  of  the  school-teachers, 
the  parsonage,  the  church,  and  school  edifices,  and  also 
the  supplying  of  any  other  necessities,  will  please  sub- 
scribe their  names  to  this  writing,  and  annex  the  sum 
that  they  will  give.  And  as,  through  the  gracious  pro- 
vidence of  God,  our  beloved  inhabitants  have,  in  this  re- 
spect, a  great  advantage  in  point  of  privilege  and  ease 
from  cares  over  many  other  Christian  congregations,  be- 
cause they  are  not  required  to  compensate  their  pastors, 
nor  minister  to  their  temporal  support,  it  is  expected 
that  they  will  be  the  more  prompt  in  contributing  their 
quota  toward  the  sustainment  of  the  above  regulations 
and  establishments,  which  are  designed  for  the  support 
of  the  congregation  and  the  upholding  of  the  worship  of 
God.  They  should  even  rejoice  that  the  opportunity  is 
afforded  them  to  manifest  the  activity  of  their  faith, 
through  the  love  of  God,  to  his  word,  the  church,  and 
the  schools ;  but  when  there  is  no  active  love,  there  is 
no  true  faith.  '  Show  me  thy  faith  by  thy  works.' 
James  ii.  18. 

"  Finally,  touching  the  office  and  duties  of  the  church- 
elders,  in  regard  to  the  ministers  in  the  churches,  the 
teachers  in  the  schools,  the  whole  congregation,  and  the 
money  intrusted  to  them,  it  shall,  in  conclusion,  be  indi- 
cated in  the  words  of  the  printed  London  German  Church 
Discipline,  given  to  us,  altered,  however,  in  several  in- 
stances, to  accord  with  our  peculiar  circumstances,  as 
follows : — 

"  Ist.  They  shall  employ  the  utmost  diligence  in  pro- 
viding that  the  word  of  God  be  declared  unto  the  Chris- 
tians of  our  congregation,  in  its  purity  and  without  ad- 
mixture, by  pious  teachers  and  ministers  ;  that  the  holy 
sacraments  enjoined  and  instituted  by  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  be  administered,  and  that  the  pure  doctrines  be 
preserved  and  transmitted  to  our  posterity.  And  in 
order  that  this  object  may  be  attained,  somo  of  them,  at 
y 


98  THE   SALZBURGER? 


least,  in  case  all  cannot,  shall  always  be  present  when 
the  word  is  preached. 

"  2d.  It  shall  be  their  duty  to  see  that  the  school-teach- 
ers receive  duly  their  stipulated  salary  semi-anuually : 
likewise,  that  every  thing  else  which  may  concern  the 
congregation  be  fully  performed.  For  this  purpose  they 
shall  also  collect,  half-yearly,  the  contributions  of  the 
congregation,  and  enter  the  receipts  regularly  into  the 
church  register.  They  shall  also,  semi-annually,  receive 
from  the  parents  whose  children  receive  instruction  in 
the  schools,  a  certain  amount  of  payment  for  tuition, 
proportionate  to  their  means ;  so  that  the  contribu- 
tion of  the  Avhole  congregation  for  the  defrayment 
of  the  congregational  expenses,  may  be  somewhat 
diminished. 

"  3d.  The  church-deacons  shall  make  it  their  duty,  in 
conjunction  with  the  ministers,  to  see  that  all  sins,  dis- 
graceful conduct,  and  scandal  be  avoided ;  or,  otherwise, 
duly  punished  and  corrected. 

"  4th.  They  shall  keep  a  particular  account  of  all  ex- 
penditures made  on  behalf  of  the  congregation,  and  also 
of  every  thing  which  any  one  may  have  voluntarily  vowed 
or  promised  to  give  toward  the  support  of  the  churches. 
And,  after  the  expiration  of  his  office,  each  one  shall 
submit  his  account  to  all  the  other  church-deacons  col- 
lectively. 

"  5th.  They  shall,  at  the  end  of  the  year,  and  when 
leaving  their  office  and  service,  render  an  account  to  the 
contributing  portion  of  the  congregation,  of  all  the  money 
which  they  received  during  their  official  year  for  the  use 
of  the  church  ;  so  that  each  one  may  know  how  the  funds 
of  the  congregation  are  applied  and  expended,  and  thus 
be  the  more  willing  to  contribute  again. 

*'  Gth.  They  shall  submit  the  church  register  to  the  in 
spection  of  any  one  of  the  contributors  who  may  desire 
to  see  how  the  money  has  been  employed. 

"  7th.  Those  church-deacons  who  have  served  their 
term  of  office  shall  be  in  duty  bound  to  assist  on  all  oc- 
casions, by  word  or  deed,  at  the  meetings  of  the  deacons 


A^'D    TIIKIR    DE.<CENDANTS.  90 


and  of  the  congrcf^ation,  if  desired;  and  when  cited  to  do 
so,  they  shall  appear  -without  refusal. 

"  8th.  The  church-deacons  newly  inducted,  and  at  all 
times  those  coming  into  ofl5ce  successively,  shall  also  be 
held  responsible  for  the  performance  and  fulfilment  of  all 
measures  which  may  have  been  resolved  and  agreed  upon 
by  their  predecessors,  conducive  to  the  tranquillity,  peace, 
prosperity,  and  advantage  of  the  congregation. 

•'  9th.  On  those  Sabbaths  when  the  Lord's  Supper  is 
administered,  they  shall  also  stand  at  the  doors  of  the 
church  with  suitable  vessels  (dishes  or  bowls)  to  receive 
and  collect  from  the  congregation  while  leaving  the 
church,  gifts  and  contributions  for  the  benefit  of  the 
church  and  the  poor.  It  is  also  reasonably  expected  that 
not  only  residents  should  contribute  something  for  the 
administration  of  the  rite  of  baptism,  the  performance 
of  the  marriage  ceremony,  and  for  the  celebration  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  but  strangers  should  also  be  held  to  the 
performance  of  this  duty.  For  if  the  congregation  is  not 
sustained  by  its  institutions,  these  can  also  not  enjoy 
the  privileges  mentioned. 

"  These  above-mentioned  deacons,  of  whom  not  less 
than  seven  shall  be  elected  annually  from  among  the 
members  of  our  Evangelical  Lutheran  congregation,  con- 
scientiously and  according  to  the  best  of  their  knowledge, 
have  the  power  to  apply  the  money  intrusted  to  them  to 
this  purpose ;  yet,  in  very  important  matters,  as  when  a 
church  is  to  be  built,  or  an  important  repair  is  to  be  un- 
dertaken, &c.,  the  acquiesence  and  approval  of  the  whole 
congregation  convened  in  mass  must  be  obtained.  To 
these  establishments  may  God,  who  is  a  God  of  order, 
add  his  heavenly  grace,  for  the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ! 
Amen." 

It  has  been  stated  that  this  was  the  origi- 
nal discipline,  subsequently  amended  by  Dr. 
Muhlenburg  in  1774.  It  is  impossible  to  state 
to  what  extent  it  was  altered,  but  that  J>r.  Muh- 


100  THE    SALZBURGERS 


lenburg  made  some  additions  to  it,  and  changed 
several  of  the  articles,  cannot  be  questioned.  In 
another  place  it  will  be  necessary  to  refer  again 
to  the  subject  of  church  discipline,  when  a 
synopsis  will  be  given  of  the  one  signed  by  the 
pastors,  elders,  and  deacons,  and  all  the  male 
members  of  church,  in  1774  and  1775. 

It  will  be  seen,  from  this  extract,  that  the 
principal  objects  for  which  collections  were  made 
in  the  congregation,  were  the  proper  support  of 
schools,  the  relief  of  widoAvs,  orphans,  and  the 
superannuated,  and  the  maintenance  of  the  church 
edifice,  whenever  erected.  It  is  worthy  of  re- 
mark that  the  salaries  for  the  support  of  the 
pastors  at  Ebenezer  were  for  many  years  con- 
tributed by  the  patrons  of  the  church  in  Ger- 
many. At  first,  the  amount  allowed  was  about 
forty  pounds  for  the  senior  pastor,  and  thirty 
pounds  for  his  assistant.  This  allowance  con- 
tinued until  1770,  when  Rev.  Mr.  Urlsperger  de- 
cided that  the  salaries  should  not  be  less  than  sixty 
pounds  and  fifty  pounds,  respectively,  and  that 
the  deficiency  should  be  made  up  from  the  re- 
venues arising  from  those  institutions  which  had 
been  founded  by  European  benefactions. 

The  civil  and  military  affiiirs  of  the  entire 
colony,  including  the  settlements  at  Ebenezer, 
Savannah,  Frederica,  &c.,  were  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  Trustees,  who,  through  their  agent, 
General  Oglethorpe,  assigned  lands  to  tho  colo- 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  101 


nlsts,  planned  and  laid  oif  towns,  built  fortifica- 
tions, and  so  regulated  the  whole  industrial 
economy  as  in  his  judgment  was  best  calculated 
to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  settlers  and  carry 
out  the  designs  of  the  Trustees. 

The  immediate  superintendence  of  the  settle- 
ment at  Ebenezer  was  assigned  to  the  Rev.  John 
Martin  Bolzius  and  his  colleague,  Mr.  Gronau; 
and  we  doubt  very  much  if  the  affairs  of  the 
colony  could  have  been  more  judiciously  ma- 
naged than  they  were  by  these  eminently  pious 
and  prudent  men.  Their  duties  were  at  times 
not  only  arduous,  but  distressingly  embarrassing; 
but  they  performed  them  with  a  conscientious 
faithfulness  worthy  of  all  praise,  and  with  a  de- 
gree of  success  that  is  truly  surprising.  Sus- 
taining an  indirect  relation  to  the  Trustees  in 
England,  and  a  direct  connection  with  the 
society  above  mentioned,  (from  whom  they  de- 
rived part  of  their  support,)  as  well  as  with  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  Germany,  and  having  to 
superintend  and  manage  the  civil,  as  well  as  the 
ecclesiastical  interests  of  the  colony,  it  required 
no  small  degree  of  judgment  and  discretion  to 
meet  the  wishes  of  their  benefactors  in  England 
and  their  Christian  friends  and  advisers  in  Ger- 
many. But  we  believe  they  fulfilled  their  trust 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all  parties. 

Among  the  municipal  regulations  adopted  by 
the  "Trustees,"  was  one  forbidding  the  introduc- 
9* 


102  THE   SALZBURdERS 


tion  and  sale  of  rum,  and  another  inhibiting  the 
importation  of  Negro  slaves.  The  enforcement 
of  these  measures  Avas  attended  with  very  serious 
difficulty  in  all  parts  of  the  colon}^,  except  at 
Ebenezer.  The  first  measure  was  one,  the  pro- 
priety of  which  the  Salzburgers  never  questioned. 
Temperance  societies  were  then  unknown ;  but 
no  such  agency  was  necessary  to  teach  our  pious 
ancestors  that  the  use  of  alcoholic  drinks  is  at- 
tended with  incalculable  evils,  and  that  the  most 
specific  remedy  for  these  evils,  is  not  to  pass 
license  laws  to  regulate  the  sale  of  spirits,  but  to 
remove  entirely  the  cause  that  produced  them. 
It  is  mentioned  as  a  striking  fact  in  the  subse- 
quent history  of  Ebenezer,  that  the  exclusion  of 
ardent  spirits  had  contributed  materially  to  pro- 
mote the  health  of  the  inhabitants,  while  sick- 
ness prevailed  in  all  those  places  where  the  sale 
was  permitted.  We  wish  that  this  wholesome 
regulation  had  always  been  enforced,  not  only  at 
Ebenezer,  but  throughout  our  country ;  and 
especially  that  the  descendants  of  the  Salzbur- 
gers had  always  imitated,  in  this  respect,  the 
example  of  their  pious  forefathers. 

It  is  difficult  to  ascertain  fully  the  grounds 
upon  which  the  Salzburgers  opposed  so  strenu- 
ously, and  for  so  many  years,  the  introduction 
of  Negro  slaves.  Whether  their  own  history, 
with  its  many  scenes  of  wrong  and  'jppression, 
had  predisposed  them  against  every  s\)ccics  of 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  108 


servitude,  or  whether  they  judged  that  the  ex- 
istence of  slaves  among  them  "would  render  the 
colonists  indolent,  and  perhaps  weaken  and  em- 
barrass their  community  by  exposing  it  to  the 
evils  of  a  servile  war,  are  questions  which  it 
would  not  be  easy  to  answer  satisfactorily.  We 
may,  however,  gather  some  instruction  from  a 
remark  of  Baron  A^on  Reck.  He  says,  in  one 
of  his  letters,  <'The  purchase  of  Negroes  is 
forbidden,  on  account  of  the  vicinity  of  the 
Spaniards.  The  colony  also  is  an  asylum  for 
the  distressed,  and  slaves  starve  the  poor 
labourer." 

It  is  a  matter  of  history,  however,  which 
need  not  to  be  disguised,  that  the  Salzburgers, 
including  their  pastors,  did  very  warmly  oppose 
the  importation  of  slaves;  and  if  the  question 
had  been  left  for  them  to  decide,  without  any  in- 
fluences from  abroad  being  employed  to  bias  their 
minds,  slavery  w^ould  not  have  existed  in  the 
colony.  Mr.  Bolzius  was,  perhaps,  among  the 
very  last  to  yield  his  opposition.  He  even  re- 
proved Mr.  Whitefield  very  sharply,  for  his  vacil- 
lation, in  changing  his  opinions,  after  having  in 
the  first  instance  expressed  his  disapprobation 
of  this  measure,  and  then  subsequently  favour- 
ing it.  Mr.  Whitefield  denied  having  any  parti- 
cipation in  the  matter,  and  said  that  he  believed, 
with  Pope,  "Whatever  is,  is  best;"  that  God 
had  some  wise  ends  to  accomplish  in  reference 


104  THE   SALZBURGERS 


to  African  slavery ;  and  that  he  had  no  doubt 
it  would  terminate  in  advantage  to  the  Africans. 
When  Pastor  Bolzius  yielded  his  objections  to 
this  measure,  the  ground  which  he  assumed,  as 
far  as  we  can  learn  from  his  letters,  was  as  fol- 
lows : — He  admitted  that  there  was  wrong,  in  the 
abstract,  to  place  our  fellow-men  in  a  state  of 
bondage ;  yet  if,  by  removing  the  African  from 
the  heathenism  of  his  native  land  to  a  country 
where  his  mind  would  be  enlightened  by  the 
gospel,  and  provision  made  for  the  salvation  of 
his  soul,  the  evils  of  slavery  might  be  endured 
in  consideration  of  the  moral  and  spiritual  ad- 
vantages which  it  bestows  upon  its  unfortunate 
victims.  By  this  mode  of  reasoning,  and  by 
means  of  an  essay  from  the  pen  of  James  Ha- 
bersham, Esq.,  the  Salzburgers,  including  their 
pastors,  after  considerable  hesitation,  consented 
to  have  slaves  brought  into  the  colony.  They 
did  not  do  so,  however,  until  after  they  had  freely 
conferred  with  their  Christian  friends  in  Ger- 
many. The  Rev.  S.  Urlsperger,  in  advising  them 
upon  this  subject,  says :  "If  you  take  slaves  in 
faith,  and  with  the  intent  of  conducting  them  to 
Christ,  the  action  will  not  be  a  sin,  but  may 
prove  a  'benediction.'  "  This  advice  determined 
their  future  course  in  reference  to  this  import- 
ant question.  The  discussion  of  this  subject 
had,  however,  produced  great  excitement  in  the 
colony.      In    the   language   of  another,    <'  The 


AND   THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  105 


■whole  province  dwelt,  as  it  -were,  on  the  brink 
of  a  volcano,  whose  intestine  fires  raged  higher 
and  higher,  threatening  at  no  distant  period  a 
desolating  eruption."  It  -was  under  these  cir- 
cumstances, and  Avhen  the  community  seemed  to 
be  on  the  brink  of  a  civil  war,  that  Mr.  Bolzius 
■wrote  to  the  Trustees,  withdra"wing,  on  behalf  of 
himself  and  the  Salzburgers,  their  objection  to 
the  repeal  of  the  law. 

AVe  have  already  intimated  that  the  Lutheran 
congregation  at  Ebenezer  was  connected  with 
the  church  in  Germany,  and  it  was  accordingly 
required  that  the  pastors  should  keep  up  a  regu- 
lar correspondence,  especially  with  the  authori- 
ties at  Augsburg  and  Halle,  which  were  then 
the  two  principal  Protestant  cities  on  the  conti- 
nent. This  correspondence  contained  a  minute 
detail  of  all  the  occurrences  at  Ebenezer,  and 
the  most  important  part  of  it  was  published  in 
the  Nachrichten  of  Rev.  S.  Urlsperger,  of  Augs- 
burg, and  much  of  it  is  still  extant. 

But  while  the  church  in  Germany  kept  up  its 
ecclesiastical  connection  with  the  church  at 
Ebenezer,  and  sought  to  direct  its  spiritual 
affairs,  it  was  not  backward  in  raising  means  for 
its  maintenance.  Even  prior  to  the  emigration 
of  the  Salzburgers,  collections  had  been  taken 
up  in  various  parts  of  Germany,  and  after  their 
settlement  at  Ebenezer  they  continued  to  receive 
donations    from    their    transatlantic    brethren ; 


106  THE   SALZBURGERS 


and  such  was  the  liberality  displayed  toward 
them,  that  a  church  fund  was  raised  amounting 
to  twelve  thousand  guilders,  for  the  support  of 
the  pastors,  and  other  benevolent  purposes. 

It  ought  to  be  mentioned  that,  in  the  esta- 
blishment of  the  colony,  the  cause  of  education 
was  not  overlooked,  and  in  every  instance  in 
which  a  pastor  was  sent  over,  a  schoolmaster 
accompanied  him,  unless  one  was  already  pro- 
vided. A  fund,  too,  was  subsequently  created 
for  his  support;  for  our  pious  forefathers  judged, 
and  very  correctly  too,  that  no  country  can  pros- 
per in  which  provision  is  not  made  for  the  mental 
culture  and  improvement  of  the  rising  genera- 
tion. Thus  we  find  that  there  was  a  regular 
school  kept  up  during  the  lifetime  of  Mr.  Bol- 
zius  and  many  years  afterward,  at  Ebenezer,  and 
one  at  Zion's  Church,  four  miles  below  Ebenezer. 
Subsequently,  when  the  church  called  ''Bethany" 
w^as  built  on  the  bluff  above  Ebenezer,  a  school- 
house  was  also  erected,  and  a  fund  established 
for  the  support  of  the  teacher.  From  this  it 
will  be  seen  how  much  importance  was  attached 
to  the  subject  of  education,  and  how  careful  the 
Salzburgers  were  to  make  provision  for  the  sup- 
port of  their  teachers.  In  this  respect  there  is 
another  striking  parallel  between  the  Salzbur- 
gers and  the  Puritans  of  New  England ;  and  if 
the  former  had  been  as  favourably  situated  as 
the  latter,  there  is  no  doubt  that  they  would 


AND    TIIKTR    DESCENDANTS.  107 


have  accomplished  fully  as  much  in  making  pro- 
vision for  the  proper  intellectual  training  of  their 
offspring.  At  all  events,  thej  sho^ved  most  con- 
clusively that  they  had  enlightened  and  liberal 
views  upon  the  subject  of  education,  and  em- 
ployed every  means  in  their  power  to  promote  it. 
Such  were  the  circumstances  under  which  the 
colony  at  Ebenezer  was  commenced.  The 
foundation  was  laid  by  the  Trustees  for  the 
colonization  of  Georgia,  aided  by  the  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  Christian  Knowledge, 
and  the  liberal  donations  of  Christian  friends  in 
Germany.  Let  us  now  take  a  look  at  this  little 
community.  In  the  year  1736  the  place  began 
to  assume  the  appearance  of  a  village,  giving 
evidence,  by  its  neat  cottages,  of  the  presence  of 
civilization  almost  in  the  midst  of  savage  tribes 
of  Indians.  Within  its  precincts  stand  the 
school-house  for  the  education  of  the  children, 
and  the  asylum  for  the  widow  and  orphan,  within 
whose  walls  the  pastors  and  their  flocks,  as  yet, 
meet  for  the  w^orship  of  God.  There,  too,  is  the 
comfortable  parsonage,  in  which  dwell  those  holy 
men  whose  greatest  happiness  is  derived  from 
the  spiritual  prosperity  of  their  people,  and  who 
labour  patiently  and  unremittingly  for  the  tem- 
poral and  eternal  welfare  of  those  committed  to 
their  charge,  pointing  them,  by  their  precept  and 
example,  to  a  holier  and  happier  state  above. 
The  people,  too,  are  obedient  to  the  voice  of  their 


^08  THE   SALZEURGERS 


shepherds.  They  receive  their  instructions  re- 
spectfully and  dutifully ;  and  yielding  their 
hearts  to  the  influences  of  Christian  principles, 
they  become  "living  epistles"  to  the  power  of 
our  holy  religion  to  change  the  heart  and  regu- 
late the  conduct. 

One  cannot  well  conceive  of  a  community 
more  happily  constituted  than  this  was.  The 
civil  and  municipal  laws  were  few  and  simple ; 
their  church-discipline  scriptural  and  rigid.  At 
the  head  of  the  community  stand  the  pastors 
and  elders  of  the  congregation.  These  consti- 
tute the  umpire  before  which  all  questions  both 
civil  and  religious  are  brought ;  and  such  is  the 
integrity  of  those  who  compose  this  tribunal, 
and  such  the  prudence  and  wisdom  and  impar- 
tiality which  characterize  all  their  proceedings, 
that  their  decisions  are  always  satisfactory,  and 
no  appeals  are  ever  made  from  their  judgment. 

Under  these  circumstances  Ebenezer,  as  might 
have  been  expected,  was  destined  to  enjoy,  for  a 
season  at  least,  a  good  measure  of  prosperity. 
Its  inhabitants  were  not  only  accustomed  tr 
hardships,  but  being  industrious  and  frugal  in 
their  habits,  and  living  always  in  the  fear  of 
God,  they  possessed  within  themselves  all  those 
elements  necessary  to  the  success  of  any  enter- 
prise. It  is  true,  there  were  many  difficulties 
to  be  surmounted  at  the  outset,  arising  from 
the  want  of  arable  land  and  the  scarcity  of  pro- 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  109 


visions ;  but  as  soon  as  their  lands  could  be 
brought  under  cultivation,  -which  was  done  in 
this  and  the  following  year,  and  a  communica- 
tion opened  with  the  city  of  Savannah,  which 
was  effected  by  the  purchase  of  a  boat  for  that 
purpose,  their  circumstances  were  greatly  im- 
proved. 

Their  easy  access,  too,  to  the  river,  which 
abounded  with  fish  and  wild-fowl,  enabled  them 
to  obtain  supplies  of  food,  which  tended  greatly 
to  relieve  their  necessities. 

That  the  reader  may  form  some  idea  of  the 
condition  of  affairs  at  Ebenezer  about  this  time, 
the  following  letter  from  Pastor  Bolzius,  dated 
the  13th  of  February,  1738,  is  inserted:  "With 
great  satisfaction  we  perceive  that,  through  the 
grace  of  God,  general  contentment  prevails 
among  our  people.  The  longer  they  are  here 
the  better  they  are  pleased ;  and  we  are  sure 
their  utmost  wishes  will  be  gratified  when  they 
shall  be  able  to  live  by  their  own  industry. 

"  They  are  satisfied,  because  they  are  enjoy- 
ing the  privileges  which  they  had  long  sought  in 
vain — to  have  the  word  of  God  in  its  purity. 
Our  heavenly  Father  will  perhaps  provide  the 
means  for  building  a  house  for  worship.  At 
present  we  worship  in  the  Orphan-House,  and 
feel  that  God  is  with  us." 

It  was  about  this  period  that  the  celebrated 
George  Whitefield  visited  Ebenezer.     Speaking 

10 


110  THE   SALZBURGER3 


of  the  State  of  the  colony,  he  remarks :  "  Their 
lands  are  surprisingly  improved.  They  are  also 
blessed  with  two  such  pious  ministers  as  I  have 
seldom  seen.  They  have  no  courts  of  jurisdic- 
tion, but  all  differences  are  immediately  settled 
by  their  pastors.  They  have  an  orphan-house, 
in  which  are  seventeen  children  and  a  widow." 

With  the  orphans'  school  Mr.  Whitefield  was 
very  much  gratified.  He  had  it  in  contempla- 
tion to  establish  a  similar  institution  in  Georgia, 
for  the  benefit  of  the  numerous  orphans  whom 
he  found  in  Savannah  and  its  vicinity.  His 
heart  had  first  been  directed  to  this  subject  by 
what  he  had  heard  and  read  in  reference  to  the 
celebrated  orphan-house  founded  at  Halle,  by 
Dr.  Franke.  When  he  visited  the  Orphans' 
Asylum  at  Ebenezer,  he  was  so  much  pleased, 
that  his  purposes  were  confirmed,  and  he  pro- 
jected his  orphan-house,  which  he  called  Be- 
thesda.  This  was  located  about  eight  miles  from 
Savannah. 

While  on  the  visit  above  alluded  to,  Mr. 
Whitefield  was  so  much  delighted  with  the  order 
and  harmony  at  Ebenezer,  that  he  gave  part  of 
his  own  <'poor  stores"  to  Mr.  Bolzius,  to  be  distri- 
buted among  his  orphans.  Mr.  Whitefield  thus 
describes  the  scene :  "  Mr.  Bolzius  called  all  the 
children  before  him ;  catechized  and  exhorted 
them  to  give  thanks  to  God  for  his  good  provi- 
dence toward  them ;  then  prayed  with  them,  and 


AND    TIIEin    DESCENDANTS.  Ill 


made  them  pray  after  him  ;  then  sung  a  psalm. 
Afterwards  the  little  la7nhs  came  and  shook  me  by 
the  hand  one  by  one,  and  so  2ve  j^cirted  !" 

Mr.  Whitefield  never  forgot  this  visit  to  the 
Salzburgers ;  and  he  became  so  deeply  interested 
in  their  welfare,  that  a  year  or  two  afterward  he 
interested  himself  to  procure  an  English  teacher 
for  one  of  their  schools,  and  offered  to  educate 
two  pious  young  men  in  his  orphan-house,  whom 
the  pastors  at  Ebenezer  might  select  for  this 
purpose. 

In  a  letter  written  by  Mr.  Thomas  Jones, 
dated  Savannah,  Georgia,  on  the  18th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1740,  occur  the  following  remarks : 
"  Thirty  miles  distance  from  this  place  is  Eben- 
ezer, a  town  on  the  Savannah  river,  inhabited 
by  Salzburgers  and  other  Germans,  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Mr.  Bolzius  and  Mr.  Gronau, 
who  are  discreet,  worthy  men :  they  consist  of 
sixty  families  and  upward.  The  town  is  neatly 
built,  the  situation  exceedingly  pleasant;  the 
people  live  in  the  greatest  harmony  with  their 
ministers  and  with  one  another,  as  one  family. 
They  have  no  drunken,  idle,  or  profligate  peo- 
ple among  them,  but  are  industrious,  and  many 
have  grown  wealthy.  Their  industry  has  been 
blessed  with  remarkable  and  uncommon  success, 
to  the  envy  of  their  neighbours,  having  great 
plenty  of  all  the  necessary  conveniences  for  life 
(except  clothing)  within  themselves ;  and  supply 


112 


THE    SALZBURGERS 


this  town  (Savannah)  with  bread-kind,  as  also 
beef,  veal,  pork,  poultry,  &c." 

For  the  gratification  of  the  reader,  and  espe- 
cially for  the  benefit  of  the  descendants  of  the 
Salzburgers,  we  subjoin  a  list  of  the  principal 
residents  at  Ebenezer  in  1741 : 


Rev.  John  Martin  Bolzius, 
Rev.  Israel  Christian  Gronau, 
Bartholomew  Reiser, 
Bartholomew  Zant, 
Thomas  Goswandel, 
Gabriel  Maurer, 
John  Maurer, 
George  Kogler, 
Paulus  Zittrauer, 
Peter  Renter, 
Stephen  Rottenberger, 
Ambrosii  Zubli, 
John  Jacob  Zubli, 
Christopher  Ortman, 
Ruprecht  Kalcher, 
Leonard  Rauner, 
Christian  Reidelsperger, 
Frederick  Wilhelm  Moller, 
Martin  Hortzog, 
Christian  Hessler, 
John  Pletter, 
Frank  Sigismund, 
John  Hernberger, 
George  Bruckner, 
Carl  Sigismund  Ott, 
Matthias  Zettler, 


Ruprecht  Eischberger, 
John  Peter  Arnsdorff, 
Simon  Reiter, 
Matthias  Brandner, 
Christian  Leimberger, 
Martin  Lackner, 
Lupretcht  Steiner, 
Yeitt  Lemmenhoifer, 
John  and  Carl  Floerl, 
Ruprecht  Zimmerman, 
Simon  Steiner, 
George  Schwaiger, 
John  Schmidt, 
Leonard  Crause, 
Peter  Gruber, 
Jacob  Schartner, 
Joseph  Leitner, 
John  Cornberger, 
Andreas  Grimminger, 
Matthias  Bergsteiner, 
Veitt  Landseller, 
Joseph  Ernst, 
John  Michael  Reiser, 
Thomas  Pichler, 
John  Speilbiegler. 


The  invasion  of  Georgia  by  the  Spaniards, 
about  this  time,  created  considerable  excitement 
throughout  the  colony;  and  the  Salzburgers  not 


AND  THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  113 


only  sympathized  with  their  English  neighbours, 
but  cheerfully  contributed  to  the  defence  of  the 
country,  and  bore  their  part  of  all  the  burdens 
and  inconveniences  incident  upon  such  occasions. 
Still  they  never  lost  sight  of  the  object  of  their 
removal  to  America.  They  seem,  however,  not 
to  have  been  very  seriously  embarrassed  by  the 
war,  as  may  be  learned  from  a  letter  of  Mr. 
Bolzius,  dated  the  23d  of  July,  1740,  addressed 
to  Dr.  Franke,  of  Halle.  He  says,  in  that  letter : 
"  Together  with  these  spiritual  blessings  and 
the  salutary  effect  of  the  word  of  God,  in  the 
conversion  of  many  souls,  we  enjoy  this  year 
also,  by  the  mercy  of  God,  many  temporal  good 
things.  The  present  war,  and  the  burden  of  it, 
has  not  affected  us  much  as  yet,  and  in  the  great 
dearness  the  colony  suffered  last  year  we  have 
not  been  in  want  of  necessary  provision.  As 
to  the  present  year,  we  have  a  very  hopeful 
prospect  of  a  good  harvest,  every  thing  in  the 
fields  and  gardens  growing  so  delightful  as 
we  have  never  seen  before  in  this  country.  If 
Isaac,  by  the  blessing  of  the  Lord,  received  from 
what  he  had  sowed  an  hundred  fold,  I  believe  I 
dare  say,  to  the  glory  of  God,  our  Salzburgera 
will  receive  a  thousand-fold,  notwithstanding  the 
corn  when  it  came  out  of  the  ground  was  entirely 
eaten  up  by  worms,  of  which  no  one  can  form  a 
right  idea,  unless  he  sees  it  with  his  own  eyes. 
The  land  is  really  very  fruitful,  if  the  sins  of  the 
10* 


114  THE   SALZBURGERS 


inhabitants,  and  the  curse  of  God  for  such  sins, 
does  not  eat  it  up,  -which  was  formerly  the  un- 
happy case  of  the  blessed  land  of  Canaan. 

<' And  I  am  heartily  sorry  to  acquaint  you,  that 
I  do  not  find  in  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
colony,  a  due  thankfulness  for,  and  contentment 
with,  the  many  blessings  bestowed  on  them  for 
several  years  together ;  although  those  who  are 
industrious  and  will  labour  for  their  maintenance 
may,  as  we  do,  live  contentedly  and  subsist  un- 
der the  blessing  promised  by  Paul,  (Heb.  xiii.  5,) 
<  I  will  never  leave  thee  nor  forsake  thee ;' 
which  blessing  the  idle  and  unthankful  are  not 
entitled  to." 

In  the  journal  of  Pastor  Bolzius  is  found  the 
following  minute:  ^'\Oth  of  August,  1741. — We 
have  this  year  plenty  of  peaches,  and  as  this 
fruit  does  not  keep,  some  of  the  people  try  to 
make  a  sort  of  brandy  of  them;  others  give 
them  to  the  swine.  This  is  more  than  anybody 
could  have  promised  himself  or  others  some 
years  ago.  Even  at  this  time  when  I  am  writing, 
a  man  brings  a  large  dish  of  blue  grapes  to  me, 
grown  wild  in  the  woods ;  they  are  of  a  sweet 
taste,  and  pretty  like  our  European  grapes,  so 
that  I  am  very  apt  to  believe,  the  wild  vines, 
if  properly  managed,  would  give  good  wine. 
Thanks  to  our  gracious  God,  who  gives  us  here 
every  good  thing  for  our  support!" 

*'  dth  of  September^  1741. — Some  time  ago  I 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  115 


wrote  to  an  honoured  friend  in  Europe,  that  the 
land  in  this  country,  if  well  managed,  brings 
forth  by  the  blessing  of  God,  not  only  a  hun- 
dred-fold, but  a  thousand-fold  ;  and  I  was  this 
day  confirmed  therein.  A  woman,  having  two 
years  ago  picked  out  of  Indian  corn  no  more 
than  three  grains  of  rye,  and  planting  them 
here  at  Ebenezer,  one  of  these  grains  produced 
an  hundred  and  seventy  stalks  and  ears,  and 
yielded  to  her  a  bag  of  corn  as  large  as  a  coat 
pocket. 

"True  it  is,  notwithstanding  the  fertility  of 
the  land,  the  first  tillers  of  it  must  undergo 
and  struggle  with  great  diflBculties ;  but  those 
that  come  after  them  will  reap  the  benefit 
thereof,  if  they  go  on  to  do  their  labour  in  the 
fear  of  God.  The  land  is  able  to  provide  every 
good,  and  more  particularly  is  pasturage  very 
plenteous." 

From  these  extracts  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
settlement  at  Ebenezer  and  its  vicinity  was  fully 
as  prosperous  as  could  have  been  expected  under 
the  circumstances.  Additions  were  constantly 
making  to  it  by  new  arrivals  of  emigrants  from 
the  fatherland.  It  appears,  from  a  statement 
made  by  Mr.  Benjamin  Martyn,  Secretary  of  the 
Trustees,  that  up  to  1741,  over  twelve  hundred 
German  Protestants  had  arrived  in  the  colony. 
Most  of  these  were  sent  over  by  the  charity  of 
their  friends  in  England  and  Germany.     There 


116  THE   SALZBUIKJERS 


"were,  however,  many  -who  came  in  1735,  and 
subsequently,  for  -whom  no  provision  was  made. 
So  anxious,  however,  were  they  to  escape  perse- 
cution in  their  native  land  and  find  an  asylum 
in  Georgia,  that  they  consented  to  bind  them- 
selves as  servants  to  the  Trustees,  for  five  years 
after  their  arrival  in  Georgia,  and  to  pay  by  their 
own  labour  the  expense  of  their  transportation. 
In  fact,  the  indentures  which  they  made  bound 
not  only  themselves,  but  their  children.  The 
males  who  were  under  twenty  were  to  serve  until 
they  were  twenty-five,  and  the  females  who  were 
above  six  were  to  serve  until  they  arrived  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years. 

These  conditions,  however,  were  not  always 
rigidly  enforced,  for  it  appears,  from  the  minutes 
of  the  Trustees,  that  on  the  26th  of  July,  1742, 
a  petition  was  presented  to  that  body  signed  by 
Christian  Steinharel,  Theobald  Keiifer,  and 
others,  stating  that  their  term  of  service  had 
expired,  and  praying  the  Trustees  to  grant  them 
the  freedom  of  their  children  at  the  expiration 
of  the  time  (five  years)  for  which  the  petitioners 
were  bound.  To  the  credit  of  the  Trustees,  it 
should  ever  be  remembered,  the  prayer  was 
granted. 

Among  the  Salzburgers  who  were  sold,  and 
■whose  children  were  apprenticed,  w^as  one,  who, 
from  the  romantic  history  connected  ■  with 
his  family,  deserves,  perhaps,  special  mention. 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  117 


This  was  Mr.  Frederick  Helfenstein.  If  the 
tradition  in  reference  to  him  is  correct,  he  was 
a  lineal  descendant  of  the  Count  of  Helfenstein, 
■who,  with  his  wife  (a  daughter  of  the  Emperor 
Maximilian)  and  their  youngest  child,  were 
butchered  with  seventy  men  under  his  command, 
in  the  servile  insurrection  which  occurred  in 
the  time  of  Luther,  commonly  known  as  ''  the 
Rebellion  of  the  Peasantry."  From  that  time 
the  family  were  reduced  to  utter  obscurity  and 
the  most  abject  poverty.  Mr.  Helfenstein,  per- 
haps the  last  of  the  count's  descendants,  having 
served  out  an  apprenticeship  at  the  tanner  s 
trade,  and  married  a  young  lady  to  whom  he 
became  attached  while  learning  his  trade,  emi- 
grated to  America,  and  arrived  in  Savannah 
without  the  means  to  pay  his  passage.  Conse- 
quently he  and  his  wife  were  sold  as  servants  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  their  passage.  Having 
faithfully  served  out  his  time,  he  removed  to 
Goshen,  about  twelve  miles  below  Ebenezer, 
and  established  himself  in  business.  In  the 
course  of  time  he  acquired  a  handsome  compe- 
tency. But  it  will  be  necessary  to  speak  of  him 
hereafter. 

Many  of  the  Salzburgers  remained  in  Savan- 
nah and  its  vicinity,  and  formed  the  nucleus  for 
the  organization  of  a  church  in  that  city.  It 
was,  however,  regarded  for  a  long  time  as  mis- 
sionary ground,  and  the  congregation  was  sup- 


118  THE    SALZBURGERS 


plied  with  preaching,  from  time  to  time,  by  the 
pastors  at  Ebenezer,  and  the  Rev.  U.  Driesler, 
from  Frederica. 

This  gentleman  (Mr.  Driesler)  had  been  sent 
over  in  1743,  by  <'  the  Society  for  the  Propaga- 
tion of  Christian  Knowledge,"  to  supply  the 
spiritual  wants  of  the  Salzburgers,  who  had  set- 
tled on  St.  Simon's  Island.  In  1744,  he  visited 
the  brethren  at  Ebenezer.  Mr.  Bolzius  thus 
speaks  of  him,  under  date  of  Febuary  24,  1744: 
"  Mr.  Driesler  arrived  yesterday.  He  labours 
with  the  blessing  of  God  in  his  small  congrega- 
tion at  Frederica,  consisting  of  sixty-two  souls. 
Captain  Horten,  the  commandant  of  the  fort  at 
that  place,  gives  him  an  honourable  testimony; 
and  we  trust  our  friend  will  be  an  instrument 
to  the  salvation  of  many  souls.  Next  Lord's 
day  he  is  to  preach  in  Savannah.  This 
day  he  preaches  both  in  Zion  and  Jerusalem 
churches." 

Mr.  Driesler  was  spared  to  the  congregation 
at  Frederica  but  a  short  time.  The  Lord  called 
him  to  his  rest  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1745. 
He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Zubli,  from 
Switzerland,  who  had  charge  of  the  church  for 
several  years.  He  seems  to  have  had  no  con- 
nection with  the  pastors  at  Ebenezer,  and  was 
probably  supported  by  the  English  officers  com- 
manding the  fort.  Mr.  Zubli  continued  pastor 
at  Frederica  only  a  few  years,  for  as  soon  as  the 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  119 


Spanish  and  French  war  began,  he  removed  to 
Orangeburg,  in  South  Carolina.* 

It  has  been  found  impracticable  to  gather 
much  information  in  regard  to  the  German  set- 
tlement at  Frederica.  It  must,  however,  have 
been  very  flourishing  at  one  time.  A  gentleman 
who  visited  the  island  in  1743,  makes  particular 
mention  "  of  the  quiet  village  of  the  Salzbur- 
gers  ;"  and  says,  "the  whole  town  and  country 
adjacent  are  quite  rurally  charming;  and  the 
improvements  everywhere  evince  the  greatest 
skill  and  industry,  considering  its  late  settle- 
ment." This  beautiful  town  was,  however,  des- 
tined to  an  ephemeral  existence.  As  early  as 
1749  it  began  to  decline,  and  in  1751  a  journalist 
describes  it  "as  presenting  the  melancholy  pros- 
pect of  houses  without  inhabitants,  barracks 
without  soldiers,  guns  without  carriages,  and 
streets  grown  over  with  weeds.  All  appeared 
to  me  with  a  horrible  aspect,  and  so  different 
from  what  I  once  knew  it,  that  I  could  scarce 
refrain  from  tears." 

It  was  about  this  time  that  Dr.  H.  M.  Muh- 
lenberg first  visited  Ebenezer.  He  had,  up  to 
1741,  been  pastor  of  Hermersdorf,  in  Upper 
Lusatia,  and  inspector  of  the  orphan-house  in 
that  place,  but  had  accepted  a  call  to  the  Luthe- 
ran church  in  Philadelphia.  The  object  of  his 
journey  to  Ebenezer  is  not  definitely  stated,  but 

*  White. 


120  THE    SALZBURGERS 


it  is  probable  that  he  had  been  authorized  by 
the  friends  and  patrons  of  the  Salzburgers  in 
Germany  to  look  into  the  condition  of  the  colony, 
and  report  to  them  the  result  of  his  observa- 
tions. He  remained  only  six  days,  but  even 
this  short  sojourn  seems  to  have  been  highly 
gratifying  to  the  pastors  at  Ebenezer,  as  well  as 
their  people,  for  Pastor  Gronau  makes  special 
mention  of  it  in  his  journal.  He  remarks : 
"  This  day  (October  11,  1742)  my  dear  colleague 
(Mr.  Bolzius)  and  Mr.  Muhlenberg  were  to  start 
for  Charleston,  but  evening  came  on  before 
things  were  ready.  The  day  had  not,  however, 
been  spent  in  vain.  The  preparations  for  the 
journey  having  been  made,  my  colleague  took 
leave  of  us  in  a  prayer. 

"  Never  before  have  we  spent  so  blessed  and 
happy  a  season  at  Ebenezer.  For  the  Lord  had 
never  before  permitted  us  to  embrace  a  dear 
friend  from  our  native  country,  in  whom  we 
found  a  real  brother  in  Christ."  Mr.  Bolzius 
accompanied  Dr.  Muhlenberg  as  far  as  Charles- 
ton, but  returned  in  a  few  days  to  his  field  of 
labour. 

It  has  been  stated  that  for  many  years  the 
Salzburgers  were  unable  to  build  a  church,  and 
were  compelled  to  worship  in  the  orphan-house ; 
but,  through  the  assistance  of  their  friends  in 
Germany,  they  had  succeeded  in  erecting  a  plain 
but  comfortable  house  at  Ebenezer,  called  "  Je- 


AND   TIIETR   DESCENDANTS.  121 


rusalem,"  and  anotlier  about  four  miles  below, 
called  "Zion."  The  latter  had  become  neces- 
sary, because  the  colonists  were  rapidly  settling 
on  the  river  below  the  town,  and  along  the  road 
leading  from  Ebenezer  to  Savannah.  These 
churches  were  both  in  use  in  1744. 

It  would  be  profitable,  if  it  were  deemed  ex- 
pedient, to  make  copious  extracts  from  the 
journals  of  the  pastors,  to  show  the  character 
of  the  instructions  which  they  imparted  to  their 
people;  or  rather  to  exhibit  the  deep-toned 
piety  which  the  pastors  at  Ebenezer  cultivated 
themselves,  and  which  they  sought  to  impart  to 
their  people.  We  may  safely  challenge  a  com- 
parison between  the  ministrations  of  these  de- 
voted men,  and  those  of  any  pastors  in  any 
other  churches  in  point  of  fidelity  and  earnest- 
ness, in  inculcating  not  only  a  refined  and  ele- 
vated morality,  but  more  especially  a  pure  and 
transforming  system  of  evangelical  Christianity. 
Mr.  Bolzius  states  that  a  little  girl  came  to  him, 
confessing  that  she  had  stolen  a  peach,  and  that 
conscience  disturbed  her  so  much  on  that  account, 
that  she  could  neither  sleep  nor  work.  I  in- 
formed her,  says  Mr.  Bolzius,  that  when  the 
commission  of  what  is  generally  considered  a 
light  sin  disturbs  our  conscience,  a  fire  begins  to 
burn  within  us  like  the  fires  of  hell,  and  then 
we  no  longer  think  of  the  distinctions  between 
gross  and  trivial  sins.  I  advised  her  to  learn 
11 


122  THE   SALZBURGERS 


tliat  God  frequently  improves  the  occasion  of  a 
•wrong  lately  committed  by  us  to  bring  to  our 
mind  the  mass  of  sin  that  fills  our  hearts,  so 
that  we  may  repent,  and  ask  his  forgiveness 
for  Christ's  sake.  Finally,  I  dismissed  her  by 
bringing  the  following  text  to  her  recollection. 
"  If  we  confess  our  sins,  God  is  faithful  and  just 
to  forgive  us  our  sins,  and  to  cleanse  us  from  all 
unrighteousness."* 

Such  a  course  of  religious  training  was  not 
without  its  influence  in  forming  the  characters 
and  regulating  the  conduct  of  the  colonists.  In 
fact,  they  became  everywhere  proverbial  for 
the  correctness  of  their  external  deportment, 
and  especially  for  the  Christian  spirit  which 
they  displayed  on  all  occasions.  The  testimony 
of  their  neighbours,  of  the  citizens  of  Savannah, 
and  even  that  of  the  colonial  government,  fur- 
nishes evidence  that  the  cono-refiration  at  Eben- 
ezer  had  acquired  a  very  enviable  reputation  for 
their  unostentatious  piety.  Amid  their  trials  and 
privations  they  never  lost  sight  of  their  spiritual 
improvement,  and  laboured  sedulously  to  attain 
to  a  high  standard  of  Christian  experience  and 
practice. 

These  pious  people,  however,  were  about  to 
experience  a  severe  loss  in  the  death  of  one  of 
their  devoted   and  godly  pastors — Rev.  Israel 

*  Hazelius. 


AND    Til  Kill    DESCENDANTS.  128 


C.  Gronau.  This  melancholy  event  occurred  in 
the  month  of  January,  1745 ;  Pastor  Bolzius, 
thus  records  the  mournful  event :  "  Last  Friday, 
January  11th,  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  call  m}'- 
dear  brother  and  colleague  to  his  rest.  He  fell 
asleep  full  of  joy  in  his  Saviour.  On  a  stormy 
and  rainy  day,  nearly  a  year  since,  while  preach- 
ing to  the  Germans  in  Savannah,  he  caught  cold 
at  church,  so  that  he  -was  hardly  able  to  perform 
service  here  the  succeeding  Sabbath.  From 
the  effects  of  that  attack  he  never  recovered. 
During  the  last  six  weeks  of  his  life  he  was 
afflicted  with  a  continued  fever.  The  time  of 
his  illness  was  a  source  of  edification  to  all  of 
us  who  were  daily  about  his  person.  His  heart 
continually  enjoyed  communion  with  his  Re- 
deemer. Nothing  troubled  him,  for  he  had  an 
abiding  sense  of  reconciliation  with  God,  and 
realized  the  joy  and  peace  of  the  Holy  Ghost." 
When  one  of  the  Salzburg  brethren  took  hold 
of  his  hand,  which  Mr.  Gronau  had  lifted  up  in 
praise  of  God,  he  desired  that  the  friend  might 
support  his  arms  in  the  uplifted  position  in  which 
he  had  held  them.  This  being  done,  he  exclaimed, 
"  Come,  Lord  Jesus  !  Amen,  Amen  !"  With  these 
words  he  closed  his  lips  and  eyes,  and  entered 
into  the  "joy  of  his  Lord,  full  of  peace."  On 
the  following  day,  his  remains  were  interred  in 
the  cemetery  connected  with  Jerusalem  church, 


124  THE   SALZBURGERS 


amid  the  unfeigned  lamentations  of  his  colleague 
and  the  people  for  -whose  temporal  and  spiritual 
advantage  he  had  laboured  with  unremitting 
diligence  and  fidelity.  As  he  had  in  all  things 
<' adorned  the  doctrine  of  God  his  Saviour,"  so 
he  went  to  the  grave  full  of  hope,  leaving  the 
testimony  that  <'  God  was  with  him." 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  125 


CHAPTER  VL 

State  of  feeling  at  Ebenezer  consequent  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Gro- 
nau — Mr.  Bolzius  writes  to  Germany  for  an  assistant — Hia 
humility  and  devotion — The  church  in  Germany  send  over 
another  pastor — Rev.  II.  H.  Lcmbke  arrives  at  Ebene/.er — Hia 
reception — Marries  the  widow  of  Mr.  Gronau — Mr.  Bolzius  re- 
tains his  position — Mr.  Bolzius,  as  trustee,  erects  mill^; — Silk  cul- 
ture introduced  at  Ebenezer — Mr.  Amatis  of  Piedmont — Mulberry 
trees  planted  at  Ebenezer — Success  of  the  Salzburgers  in  raising 
silk — Bridge  and  causeway  over  Ebenezer  Creek — New  church 
and  school-house  erected — Pastoral  labours — Extent  of  the  field 
to  be  cultivated — Goshen  church — Abercorn — Extension  of  the 
settlements  around  Ebenezer — Demand  for  more  ministerial 
labour — Rov.  C.  Rabenhorst  arrives  at  Ebenezer — Mr.  Bolzius'a 
letter  on  his  arrival — Change  of  views — Provision  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  new  pastor — Condition  of  the  colony — Mr.  Bolzius 
assigns  his  trusteeship  to  Mr.  Lembke — Copy  of  the  deed  of 
trust — The  "  Trust"  to  be  transferred — Subsequent  change — 
Erection  of  another  mill — Mr.  Bolzius  begins  to  decline  in 
health — The  symbolical  books — Proper  views  in  relation  to  the 
*<  Fathers" — Confessions  and  catechisms — Deep-toned  piety  of 
the  first'pastors  at  Ebenezer — Mr.  Bolzius's  labours — His  letters 
— Rev.  S.  Urlsperger  and  Dr.  Zeigenhagen — Close  of  his  minis- 
terial duties — His  illness  and  death — Mr.  Bolzius's  family. 

As  was  to  have  been  expected,  the  death  of 
Mr.  Gronau  cast  quite  a  gloom  over  the  settle- 
ment at  Ebenezer.  By  his  consistent  Christian 
deportment,  he  had  gained  the  confidence  and 
cstcciu  of  the  ■whole  community.     He  was  par- 


126  THE   SALZBURGERS 


ticularly  endeared  to  those  who  had  come  over 
from  Germany  under  his  care,  and  for  whose 
welfare  he  had  made  so  many  sacrifices.  Upon 
no  one,  however,  did  the  loss  seem  to  fall  so 
heavily  as  upon  his  colleague,  Mr.  Bolzius. 
They  had  been  united  by  the  strongest  ties  of 
friendship  and  Christian  affection,  and  had 
laboured  together  for  tJiirteen  years  under  cir- 
cumstances which  were  well  calculated  to  unite 
them  in  indissoluble  bonds.  Impelled  by  a 
sense  of  duty  to  their  divine  Master,  they  had 
in  company  left  their  native  land,  to  become  the 
spiritual  guides  of  a  devoted  and  persecuted 
people.  They  had  been  fellow-sufferers  in  the 
perils  of  the  sea,  and  in  all  the  dangers  and 
privations  incident  upon  establishing  a  colony  in 
an  unbroken  wilderness.  For  many  years  they 
had  taken  "  sweet  counsel  together,  and  gone  to 
the  house  of  God  in  company."  But  all  these 
strong  and  endearing  relations  are  now  broken, 
and  Mr.  Bolzius  is  left  alone,  with  all  the 
weighty  responsibility  of  his  important  station. 
No  one  could  feel  more  sensibly  than  he  did  the 
obligations  connected  with  his  position.  Nor 
was  he  disposed  to  shrink  from  them.  Never- 
theless, he  writes  to  the  friends  of  the  Salzbur- 
gers  in  Germany,  requesting  that  a  preacher 
might  be  sent  over  to  supply  the  place  of  his 
departed  friend  and  brother,  Gronau.  The  fol- 
lowing extract  from  his  letter  to  Rev.  S.  Url- 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  127 


spergcr,  at  Augsburg,  is  characteristic  of  his 
Christian  humility:  *'  May  God  send  me  a  faith- 
ful and  good  man  in  the  place  of  my  departed 
friend !  Will  you  have  the  goodness  to  select 
such  a  one  for  me,  inasmuch  as  I  shall  not  be 
able^or  any  length  of  time  to  bear  the  burden 
of  business  that  overwhelms  me.  I,  too,  feel 
the  approach  of  age,  and  may  be  unexpectedly 
called  away.  Could  I  have  my  own  wish,  I 
would  ask  the  fiivour  of  you  to  send  a  pastor 
primarius  to  this  place,  so  that  I  might  take 
the  station  of  my  departed  brother.  My  mind 
has  frequently  dwelt  on  this  subject,  especially 
during  the  last  illness  of  Mr.  Gronau ;  and  I 
can  assure  you  that  I  would  prefer  by  far  being 
adjunct  to  the  new  pastor,  to  retaining  the  sta- 
tion I  now  hold,  for  I  am  too  weak  to  stand  in 
front  of  the  battle.  May  God  make  an  arrange- 
ment of  this  kind  practicable  !" 

The  request  of  Mr.  Bolzius  for  the  appointment 
of  an  adjunct  was  favourably  received,  and  early  in 
the  spring  of  1746,  the  Rev.  Herman  II.  Lembke 
was  sent  over  to  Ebenezer  to  supply  the  vacancy 
occasioned  by  the  death  of  the  lamented  Gronau. 
Ilis  arrival  was  hailed  with  great  satisfaction  by 
the  Salzburgers,  and  particularly  by  Mr.  Bol- 
zius. Mr.  Lembke  entered  upon  his  duties  with 
great  energy,  and  it  soon  became  manifest  that 
the  patrons  of  the  church  in  Germany  had  made 
a  very  judicious  selection.     About  a  year  after 


128  THE   SALZBURGErtS 


his  arrival,  he  married  the  widow  of  Mr.  Gronau, 
who,  it  appears,  was  a  near  relative  of  Mr.  Bol- 
zius,  and  this  new  relation  seems  to  have  been 
mutually  agreeable  and  beneficial  to  all  parties. 

Mr.  Bolzius,  acting  under  the  advice  of  the 
church  in  Germany,  continued  to  retain  his  posi- 
tion as  principal  pastor,  and,  as  we  have  before 
seen,  the  management  of  all  the  affairs  of  the 
colony,  both  spiritual  and  financial,  was  intrusted 
to  him.  He,  however,  associated  Mr.  Lembke 
with  him,  as  fully  as  a  sense  of  duty  would 
permit. 

It  will  be  proper  here  to  state  some  of  the 
responsibilities  which  devolved  upon  Mr.  Bolzius. 
Beside  the  onerous  ministerial  duties  connected 
with  so  large  a  field  of  labour,  he  seems  to  have 
been  appointed  trustee  for  all  the  funds  which 
had  been  collected  in  Europe  for  the  benefit  of 
the  congregation  at  Ebenezer.  We  consequently 
find  him  engaged  in  making  investments,  pur- 
chasing land,  erecting  rice-mills,  as  well  as  grist 
and  saw-mills,  and  superintending  the  whole  in- 
dustrial economy  of  the  colony.  To  carry  out 
his  plans,  he  procured  mill-stones  and  other  ne- 
cessary materials  from  Germany,  and  enlisted 
the  kind  oflSces  of  General  Oglethorpe,  who 
cheerfully  aided  Mr.  Bolzius  in  all  his  plans 
which  contemplated  the  comfort  and  general  im- 
provement of  the  Salzburgers.  During  their 
residence  at  Old  Ebenezer,  a  mill  was  established 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  129 


upon  Ebenezer  Creek,  but  this  they  were  com- 
pelled to  abandon. 

Another  important  interest  intrusted  to  Mr. 
Bolzius  was  the  introduction  among  the  Ger- 
mans of  the  silk  culture.  As  early  as  1733, 
the  "  Trustees  for  the  Settlement  of  Georgia,'* 
induced  Mr.  Nicolas  Amatis,  of  Piedmont,  to 
remove  to  Georgia,  taking  with  him  his  servant, 
Jacques  Camuse,  his  wife,  and  three  sons,  who 
were  to  instruct  the  colonists  in  the  rearing  of 
silk-worms  and  the  manufacture  of  silk.* 

In  1736,  mulberry-trees  were  planted  at 
Ebenezer  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Bolzius, 
and  the  Salzburgers  were  among  the  first  and 
most  successful  in  carrying  out  the  wishes  of  the 
Trustees  in  this  particular.  In  1742,  five  hun- 
dred trees  were  sent  to  Ebenezer,  and  a  ma- 
chine was  erected  for  preparing  the  silk.  In  1745 
and  1746,  specimens  were  sent  to  England,  and 
in  1748,  four  hundred  and  sixty-four  pounds 
were  produced.  In  1749,  the  Trustees  authorized 
Mr.  Bolzius  to  erect  ten  sheds  and  ten  machines 
for  reeling,  and  other  means  necessary  to  carry 
on  the  manufacture.  In  1750,  nearly  all  the 
colonists  had  abandoned  the  experiment  of  silk- 
raising,  except  the  Salzburgers.  They  persevered, 
and  every  year  became  more  skilled  in  the  busi- 
ness, and  in  1751,  they  sent  over  to  England  a 
thousand  pounds  of  cocoons,  and  seventy-four 

*  Stovcus. 


130  THE    SALZEUKGERS 


'pounds  two  ounces  of  raw  silk,  yielding  the 
handsome  sum  of  one  hundred  and  ten  pounds 
sterling,  or  upwards  of  five  hundred  dollars,  the 
price  being  at  that  time  thirty  shillings  per 
pound.  To  encourage  the  Germans  to  persevere 
in  their  efforts,  which  thus  far  had  been  very 
successful,  the  Trustees  gave  a  reeling-machine 
to  each  female,  who  should  become  mistress  in 
the  art  of  spinning,  and  two  pounds  in  money. 
These  marks  of  favour  were  duly  appreciated, 
and  the  culture  of  silk  was  carried  on  success- 
fully for  a  number  of  years.  Many  mulberry- 
trees  are  still  standing  at  Ebenezer,  which  no 
doubt  have  sprung  from  the  original  stock ;  and 
many  of  the  descendants  of  the  Salzburgers 
continue  to  raise  silk,  which  they  manufacture 
into  fishing-lines,  and  sell  very  readily  in  Sa- 
vannah. 

About  this  time  the  Salzburgers,  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Mr.  Bolzius,  commenced  the  construc- 
tion of  a  bridge  over  Ebenezer  Creek,  and  a 
causeway  through  the  low  grounds  adjoining, 
thus  connecting  the  town  of  Ebenezer  with  the 
settlements  which  had  been  made  on  the  north 
side  of  that  creek.  These  measures  were  of 
great  advantage,  both  to  the  town  and  the  ad- 
joining neighbourhood.  The  population  in  that 
location,  which  is  called  even  to  this  day  i-nhe 
Bluffs''  increased  so  rapidly  that  it  soon  became 
necessary  to  erect  a  new  church.     For  this  pur- 


AND   TIIETR    DDPCENDANTS.  131 


pose,  a  tract  of  one  hundred  acres  of  land  -was 
obtained  from  the  Trustees,  and  a  commodious 
edifice  was  erected,  called  '^Bethany;"  a  school- 
house  was  also  built,  together  with  a  residence 
for  the  teacher.  This  church  was  located  about 
five  miles  north-west  from  Ebenezer.  It  con- 
tinued to  exist  up  to  the  year  1774,  when  Dr. 
Muhlenburg  made  his  second  visit  to  Ebenezer ; 
but  soon  after  the  Revolutionary  War  it  was 
allowed  to  decay,  and  was  never  rebuilt.  The 
deed  for  this  church,  as  we  learn  from  Dr.  Muh- 
lenburg's  journal,  was  originally  made  to  H. 
H.  Lembke,  John  Casper  Wertseh,  and  John 
Michael,  and  was  dated  1751.  It  calls  for  one 
hundred  acres  for  Bethany  church  and  a  school- 
house.  The  object  is  thus  defined :  "In  St. 
Matthew's  Parish  for  the  use  of  a  church  and 
school-house,  and  for  the  support  and  mainte- 
nance of  the  minister  and  master  thereof." 

Besides  this  church,  another  small  one  was 
erected  at  Goshen,  about  ten  miles  below  Eben- 
ezer, near  the  road  leading  to  Savannah,  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  Salzburgers  who  had  set- 
tled in  that  neighbourhood  and  at  Abercorn. 
Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  four  Lutheran  churches 
were  now  existing  in  the  Parish  of  St.  Matthew, 
besides  the  one  in  Savannah.  The  arrangement 
in  reference  to  ministerial  labour  was,  that  the 
pastors  should  supply  the  church  in  Savannah, 
together  with  Jerusalem,   Zion,   Bethany,   and 


132  THE   SALZBURGERS 


Goshen,  dividing  the  labours  equally  among 
themselves,  as  far  as  might  be  practicable,  but 
always  under  the  direction  of  the  senior  pastor. 
It  will  be  apparent  that  this  was  a  large  field  to 
cultivate,  even  for  two  ministers.  It  covered  an 
area  of  more  than  thirty  miles,  and  besides  the 
fatigue  connected  with  journeying  from  church 
to  church,  these  pious  men  preached  every  Sab- 
bath, and  catechized  the  youth  in  their  congre- 
gations on  the  same  day ;  and  delivered  weekly 
lectures  in  all  the  churches,  besides  holding  their 
regular  ministerial  conference  for  prayer  and 
mutual  edification. 

The  population  at  Ebenezer  and  the  surround- 
ing settlements  gradually  increased,  and  was 
augmented  by  occasional  arrivals  from  Germany; 
so  that  as  early  as  1750  numerous  farms  were 
in  successful  culture  on  both  sides  of  the  road 
leading  from  Savannah  to  Augusta,  as  well  as 
upon  the  banks  of  the  Savannah  river,  and 
Lockner's,  Ebenezer,  and  Mill  creeks.  With 
the  rapid  advancement  of  the  colony,  the  duties 
of  the  pastors  at  Ebenezer  were  greatly  multi- 
plied, so  much  so,  that  the  patrons  of  the  church 
in  Germany  deemed  it  necessary  to  send  over 
an  additional  minister.  In  1752,  the  Kev. 
Christian  Rabenhorst  was  selected  by  Senior 
Urlsperger,  at  Augsburg,  and  with  him  came  a 
colony  of  emigrants  from  Wurtemberg.  Although 
Mr.  Bolzius  was  very  much  pleased  to  receive 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  133 


these  new  recruits  for  his  colony,  yet  he  did  not 
see  any  necessit}^,  at  first,  for  the  appointment 
of  an  additional  pastor.  He  was,  however,  sub- 
sequently convinced  that  he  had  been  mistaken 
in  his  opinion,  for  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Mr. 
Urlsperger,  dated  February  9,  1753,  he  re- 
marks: "I  have  to  acknowledge,  with  shame 
and  humiliation,  that  when  I  first  was  informed  of 
the  appointment  of  a  third  minister  for  Ebenezer, 
and  ever  afterward  when  I  saw  him,  I  believed 
such  an  appointment  to  be  superfluous ;  but 
since  we  have  become  better  acquainted  with 
him,  and,  through  the  rich  grace  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  felt  that  he  was  one  heart  and  soul  w^ith 
us  in  religion,  office,  and  brotherly  conduct ;  and 
when,  after  my  last  return  from  Charleston,  I 
discovered  the  decrease  of  my  bodily  strength, 
I  was  humbly  rejoiced  at  the  goodness  of  God, 
who  has,  in  addition  to  many  other  precious  gifts, 
sent  us  (without  our  wish  or  desire)  this  faithful 
and  prudent  brother,  Timotheus.  What  gratifi- 
cation does  it  afford  me,  and  my  dear  brother-in- 
law,  Lembke,  to  receive  the  assistance,  and  to  be 
supported  by  this  cheerful,  willing,  and  laborious 
man,  whom  we  have  to  restrain,  lest  his  unre- 
mitting activity  may  prove  injurious  to  him  be- 
fore he  is  acclimatized.  We  all  have  work 
enough  to  do,  and  do  all  with  pleasure.  Mr. 
Rabenhorst  enjoys  the  good-w^ill  of  the  people 
in  a  high  degree."     Thus  it  will  be  seen  that 


134  TIIK    SALZBUROER.^ 


Mr.  Bolzius,  always  ready  to  acknowledge  the  hand 
of  God  in  every  event  of  his  life,  and  to  yield  sub- 
missively to  the  wishes  of  the  reverend  fathers 
in  Germany,  gathered  fresh  strength  and  confi- 
dence from  his  experience.  These  three  pious 
and  self-denying  men  continued  to  labour  together 
harmoniously,  and  with  great  success  for  nearly 
twelve  years ;  though  the  external  affairs  of  the 
colony  were  at  times  very  distressing,  arising 
partly  from  the  effects  of  the  Spanish  war,  and 
partly  from  the  occasional  failure  of  their  crops ; 
still,  amid  all  these  untoward  circumstances,  the 
colonists  were  not  allowed  to  despair.  They 
maintained  an  unwavering  confidence  in  the 
good  providence  of  God,  and  w^ere  for  the  most 
part  contented  and  happy. 

The  arrival  of  Mr.  Rabenhorst  at  Ebenezer 
did  not,  however,  increase  the  pecuniary  embar- 
rassment of  the  congregation,  for  there  is  evi- 
dence in  the  records  that  a  capital,  amounting 
to  £649  16s.  bd.,  was  raised  in  Germany  and 
placed  in  his  hands,  from  the  interest  of  which 
he  was  to  derive  his  support.  For  this  money 
he  gave  his  bond,  obligating  himself  and  his 
heirs,  assigns,  &c.,  that  the  fund  should  be  used 
for  no  other  purpose,  and  that  it  should  be  ap- 
plied, after  his  death,  for  the  support  of  his 
successor. 

This  was  a  wise  provision,  particularly  at  this 
juncture ;    for   it  was    about   the    time  of  Mr 


AND    TIIEIll    DESCENDANTS.  135 


Rabenhorst's  arrival  in  America,  that  the  "Trus- 
tees" surrendered  their  charter  to  the  crown, 
and  Georgia  became  a  royal  province.  The 
Salzburgers,  not  being  attached  to  the  Esta- 
blished Church,  could  expect  ver^  little  further 
aid  from  England,  and  were  thrown  almost  en- 
tirely upon  the  support  of  their  German  bene- 
factors. 

In  view  of  his  increasing  age  and  infirmity, 
Mr.  Bolzius  thought  it  expedient  that  he  should 
transfer  the  trust  which  had  been  vested  in  him 
to  the  Rev.  H.  H.  Lembke.  This  he  did  with 
the  consent  of  the  Lutheran  pastors  at  London, 
Halle,  and  Augsburg.  The  trust  was  duly  con- 
veyed in  a  legal  instrument,  dated  April  15, 
1757.  It  will,  perhaps,  be  interesting  to  insert 
here  a  portion  of  said  document,  inasmuch  as  it 
will  serve  to  show  the  character  of  the  property 
which  the  Salzburgers  then  owned,  and  the  pur- 
pose for  which  it  was  intended.  The  instrument 
reads  thus: 

"  In  the  name  of  Jesus :  Inasmuch  as  it  is  unknown 
to  nie  how  soon  the  Lord  may  call  me  hence  by  death, 
and  as  it  is  my  duty  daily  to  set  my  house  in  order,  and 
to  explain  any  irregularity  or  misunderstanding  which 
might  possibly  arise  after  my  decease,  I  have  deemed  it 
necessary  and  expedient,  as  being  advised  by  my  most 
worthy  colleague,  to  give  information  to  my  colleague 
and  brother-in-law,  Herman  II.  Lembke,  as  adjunct  pas- 
tor and  future  successor  in  office,  concerning  the  design 
of  our  two  grist-mills,  the  saw-mill,  and  the  rice  stani})- 
iug-mill ;  uud  to  authorize  him,  by   this  instrument  of 


136  THE    SALZBURGERS 


•writing,  to  take  the  superintendence  of  said  mill  esta- 
blishment, during  my  life  and  after  my  death ;  so  that  the 
objects  for  which  they  were  instituted  may  be  gradually 
attained.  The  objects  were  threefold:  1.  That  all  the 
mills  should  be  firmly  invested  and  in  some  respects  im- 
proved. 2.  That,  by  the  profits  of  the  same,  other  esta- 
blishments should  in  the  process  of  time  be  sustained  in 
the  Ebenezer  congregation,  such  as  churches  and  schools, 
and  also  dwellings  for  ministers  and  school-teachers,  by 
the  joint  labours  of  the  members  of  the  congregation. 
Likewise,  that  more  ample  provision  should  be  made  for 
pastors  and  school-teachers.  And,  3.  That  widows  and 
orphans,  the  sick,  and  the  superannuated  should  be  able 
to  derive  some  assistance  therefrom. 

"  The  circumstances  which  gave  rise  to  the  erection  of 
said  mills  are  these :  I  was  solicited  by  the  congregation 
for  a  number  of  years  to  erect  a  small  mill,  at  a  cost  of 
about  ten  or  twelve  pounds  sterling,  to  meet  their  most 
pressing  wants,  in  grinding  their  Indian  corn,  wheat,  and 
rye  into  flour.  After  the  mill  was  commenced,  by  the 
assistance  of  the  major  part  of  the  male  members  of  the 
congregation,  on  the  site  where  the  mill  now  stands,  the 
sum  proposed  was  soon  found  to  be  totally  inadequate, 
although  I  obtained  gratuitously,  by  personal  request, 
the  mill-stones  and  some  iron  materials  from  General 
Oglethorpe.  Hence  it  became  necessary  to  relinquish 
the  building  of  the  orphan-house,  and  appropriate  the 
funds  placed  in  my  hands  for  that  purpose  to  the 
completion  of  the  mill.  For  the  congregation  were  not 
content  to  have  the  former  without  the  latter,  and  par- 
ticularly as  there  seemed  to  be  no  immediate  demand  for 
such  an  institution ;  they  preferred  to  provide  for  the  few 
orphans  in  town  by  taking  them  into  their  service.  The 
money  requisite  to  complete  the  mills  I  received  partly 
from  the  Trustees,  and  partly  from  other  patrons,  through 
the  exertions  of  our  fathers  in  London,  Augsburg,  and 
Halle.  To  secure  the  balance  of  funds  necessary  to  com- 
plete my  plans,  I  was  compelled  to  borrow  money,  trust- 
ing in  God,  who  has  hitherto  led  me  most  wonderfully, 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  lo7 


wisely,  graciously,  and  mightily,  by  his  paternal  Provi- 
dence, lie  has  so  directed,  by  his  blessings,  the  opera- 
tions of  the  mills,  and  the  trade  connected  with  them, 
and  by  means  also  of  donations  from  Europe,  that  the 
loan  was  gradually  refunded,  and  that  all  the  debts  con- 
tracted by  the  erection  of  the  important  saw-mill,  havo 
been  duly  paid.  To  these  works  the  members  of  the  con- 
gregation contributed  nothing,  but  have  cause  of  great 
thankfulness  that  the  mills  have  proved  such  a  blessing 
to  them.  Inasmuch  as  the  boards  and  otlicr  lumber  could 
not  be  sold  for  money,  but  were  given  in  exchange  for 
goods,  it  became  necessary  to  establish  a  trading-house. 
For  this  purpose  I  appropriated  the  first  fund  created  by 
the  charitable  donations  from  Europe,  in  the  time  of  Mr. 
Mayer. 

"  From  this  statement,  to  the  truth  of  which  all  the 
surviving  Salzburgers  can  testify,  (much  of  which  is  also 
known  to  Mr.  Lembke,)  it  is  very  evident  that  the  wonder- 
ful God  has  made  use  of  me,  unworthy  as  I  am,  as  a 
feeble  instrument  for  the  procurement  of  the  means  and 
materials  for  the  endoAvment  of  these  extensive  mill  es- 
tablishments, and  the  laying  of  the  foundation  of  the 
mill-trade.  There  remains,  therefore,  no  doubt,  that  I 
am  authorized  to  confer  the  superintendence  of  the  mill- 
establishment  and  the  trade  connected  with  it,  upon  my 
worthy  colleague  and  successor  Lembke  alone,  and  none 
other  beside  or  above  him.  This  I  do  herewith  solemnly 
perform,  after  mature  reflection  and  deliberation,  in  the 
name  of  God  and  our  reverend  fathers.  May  God  bless 
his  exertions  in  behalf  of  these  important  works,  by  his 
counsel  and  assistance,  that  His  great  name  may  bo 
glorified,  and  all  the  above  objects  be  attained ! 

John  Martin  Bolzius, 

Minister  in  this  place. 

Ebenczcr,  in  Georgia,  ) 
April  15,  1757."  J 

This  ^' power  of  attorney,"  as  the  old  church 
record  terms  it,  was  duly  signed  and  delivered  at 
in- 


138  THE   SALZBURGERS 


the  time  specified,  and  was  renewed  on  the  19th 
of  August,  1765,  just  four  months  before  the 
death  of  Mr.  Bolzius.  Two  years  subsequently 
(April  30,  1767)  Mr.  Lembke  assigned  the  same 
instrument  to  Mr.  Rabenhorst.  From  this  it 
would  seem  that  it  was  originally  designed  that 
this  trust  should  be  regularly  transferred  by  each 
pastor  to  his  successor. 

Subsequently,  however,  a  change  was  made, 
by  which  seven  trustees  were  chosen  annually, 
on  Easter  Monday,  from  among  the  members,  to 
whom  the  property  of  every  kind  belonging  to 
the  congregation  was  deeded  in  trust.  This 
feature  in  the  government  of  the  church  is  main- 
tained to  the  present  day. 

It  appears,  that  by  royal  grants,  and  pur- 
chases made  by  Mr.  Bolzius,  nine  hundred  and 
twenty-five  acres  of  land  were  connected  with 
the  mill  establishments,  and  that  the  value  of 
this  property  was  once  estimated  at  one  thousand 
five  hundred  pounds  sterling.  The  mills  were, 
however,  in  the  course  of  time  suffered  to  fall  to 
decay,  and  by  the  depreciation  in  the  value  of 
lands  nearly  the  whole  of  this  investment  was 
lost. 

Besides  this  mill,  another  was  erected  on  a 
lot  of  07ie  hundred  acres,  of  which  Messrs.  Bol- 
zius and  Lembke  took  possession  without  a  grant. 
The  cost  of  building  this  mill  was  paid  partly 
by  contributions  from  Europe,  and  partly  from 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  130 


the  income  of  the  other  mill.  But,  in  1764,  it 
was  sold  for  fifty  pounds  sterling,  and  this  amount 
was  appropriated  toward  increasing  the  fund 
for  the  support  of  a  third  minister  and  a  school- 
master. 

Mr.  Bolzius,  though  declining  in  strength, 
continued  to  discharge  his  duties  faithfully,  and 
to  watch  over  the  interests  of  the  Salzhurgers 
with  unabated  concern.  In  fact,  his  solicitude 
seemed  to  increase  with  his  advancing  years; 
and  every  letter  which  he  wrote  to  the  friends 
in  Germany  evinced  how  deeply  the  warmest 
feelings  of  his  heart  were  enlisted  on  behalf  of 
the  people  of  his  charge,  and  how  ardent  v/as 
his  zeal  in  promoting  the  glory  of  God. 

There  is  one  striking  feature  in  all  his  letters. 
We  allude  to  the  deep-toned  piety  which  per- 
vades almost  every  line.  It  is  manifest  that  he 
and  all  the  first  pastors  at  Ebenezer  were  men 
of  a  truly  devotional  spirit.  Though,  as  we 
have  seen,  they  were  all  required  to  give  their 
assent  to  the  Augsburg  Confession,  and  the 
Symbolical  Books,  yet  their  religion  was  some- 
thing more  vital  and  soul-pervading  than  the  cold 
*' orthodoxy"  which  is  too  often  associated  with 
symbolism  or  sacramentalism.  And  our  mo- 
dern theologians,  whose  zeal  for  the  Symbolical 
Books,  a.nd  whose  reverence  for  the  "fathers," 
seem  at  times  to  run  away  with  their  good  sense 
and  Christian  charity,  would  do  well  to  study  such 


140  THE    SALZBUKGEKS 


models  as  Bolzius,  Gronau,  Lembke,  and  Raben- 
horst.  They  loved  and  venerated  our  confes- 
sions and  catechisms,  and  sought  to  indoctrinate 
their  people  in  the  principles  of  the  Protestant 
faith,  as  taught  by  Luther  and  his  noble  com- 
peers ;  but  they  had  the  -wisdom  to  discriminate 
between  those  things  which  were  essential  and 
those  which  were  indifferent,  and  made  it  the 
great  object  of  their  ministry  to  have  the  peo- 
ple of  their  charge  soundly  converted  and  made 
Lutherans  and  Christians,  not  by  a  mere  out- 
ward profession,  but  by  the  cultivation  and  full 
development  of  a  pure  and  holy  inner  life — the 
life  of  the  soul  renewed  by  grace,  and  united  to 
Christ  by  a  living,  active  faith. 

In  a  letter  written  the  early  part  of  the  year 
1759,  Pastor  Bolzius  thus  speaks:  "In  our  corner 
of  the  earth  we  have  recently  enjoyed  the  pro- 
tection and  blessing  of  our  Heavenly  Father, 
both  in  temporal  and  spiritual  things.  Though 
we  have  not  been  free  from  trials  and  difficulties, 
still  they  have  been  light,  and,  as  we  trust,  have 
been  subservient  to  our  welfare  and  our  further- 
ance in  the  divine  life,  through  the  kind  direc- 
tion of  a  wise  providence.  We  acknowledge,  to 
the  praise  of  God,  that  piety  and  contentment 
still  reign  among  us,  as  even  strangers  are 
willing  to  admit.  With  my  dear  brethren  in 
office,  Messrs.  Lembke  and  Rabenhorst,  I  stand 
in    the    most    friendly    collegiate    connection. 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  141 


Every  week  we  meet  in  conference  and  for 
prayer,  by  which  meetings  our  mutual  love  is 
cemented  throu^^h  the  blessing  of  God.  The 
same  blessing  also  prevents  our  labour  among 
the  people  from  being  unfruitful.  Among  our 
congregation  are  many  men  and  women  who  are 
truly  converted  to  God,  and  who  walk  in  the 
truth,  are  ornaments  to  our  office,  and  humble 
assistants  in  the  discharge  of  our  duties.  Though, 
on  account  of  the  war  and  the  repeated  failure 
of  crops,  every  article  of  living  is  high,  yet  our 
heavenly  Father  gives  us  our  daily  bread  in  the 
enjoyment  of  peace  and  health  among  ourselves. 
If  many,  who  in  the  first  seasons  of  trial  left 
us,  had  endured  a  little  while  longer,  they  would 
have  experienced  the  truth  of  the  proverb : 
'After  winter,  spring  does  come.'  " 

This  letter  shows  very  plainly  the  spirit  which 
actuated  Mr.  Bolzius  and  his  colleagues  in  the 
discharge  of  their  duties  ;  and  it  should  not  be  a 
matter  of  surprise  that  their  faithful  and  self- 
denying  labours  were  productive  of  such  re- 
markable effects  upon  the  moral  and  religious 
characters  of  their  flocks.  Walking  themselves 
in  the  "  ordinances  and  commandments  of  God 
blameless,"  they  were  worthy  ensamples  to  those 
over  whose  souls  they  watched,  and  the  great 
Head  of  the  church  set  his  seal  of  approbation 
to  the  fidelity  of  their  ministry,  in  the  numbers 
who  through  their  instrumentality  were  '<•  turned 


142  THE    SALZBURGERS 


from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of 
Satan  unto  God." 

One  of  these  devoted  pastors,  however,  was 
about  to  be  removed.  About  the  year  1762, 
the  faithful  and  undaunted  Bolzius  began  to 
give  evidence  of  declining  health.  In  his  letters 
to  the  patrons  of  the  colony  in  Germany,  he 
made  mention  of  being  frequently  attacked  with 
fever,  which  had  impaired  his  constitution  and 
brought  on  a  distressing  cough,  which  no  medi- 
cine could  remove.  It  was  manifest  to  all  who 
saw  him  that  nature  was  yielding  to  the  inroads 
of  disease,  and  that  his  pilgrimage  was  rapidly 
drawing  to  a  close.  Nevertheless,  he  never  left 
the  post  of  duty,  but  continued  to  perform  to  the 
very  last,  as  far  as  his  strength  would  permit,  the 
arduous  labours  of  his  station ;  being  fully  deter- 
mined to  relinquish  his  charge  only  with  his  life. 
His  letters  to  his  friends  in  Europe  will  show 
the  state  of  his  mind  in  view  of  his  approaching 
end.  In  writing  to  Senior  Urlsperger  of  Augs- 
burg, he  says :  "  I  am  hastening  toward  my 
home.  He  who  sees  his  wedding-day  is  not 
concerned  about  trifles.  It  has  pleased  my 
dear  Redeemer  for  several  months  to  visit  me 
with  disease  and  infirmities,  which  most  proba- 
bly will  terminate  in  death.  I  am  in  his  hand, 
for  he  does  all  things  well ;  as  my  own  expe- 
rience has  taught  me  during  my  whole  pilgrim- 
age, but  more  especially   during  the  tldrty-txvo 


AND   THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  148 


years  of  my  pastoral  office  among  my  dear 
Sahhurgers.  Dearest  heavenly  Father  !  accept 
my  humble  thanks  for  all  thy  love  and  faithful- 
ness !  Expecting  that  my  dear  Redeemer  "will 
soon  deliver  me  from  every  evil,  and  help  me 
into  his  heavenly  kingdom,  I  deem  it  my  duty, 
though  with  a  feeble  hand,  to  write  a  few  lines 
to  you,  to  express  my  gratitude  to  you  for  all 
the  spiritual  and  temporal  acts  of  kindness  mani- 
fested toward  me,  (the  most  unworthy  of  men,) 
toward  my  family,  my  brethren  in  office,  and  to 
the  whole  congregation  for  more  than  thirty- 
tivo  years;  and  through  you  I  wish  to  express 
my  thanks  once  more  to  all  the  Christian  bene- 
factors of  Ebenezer,  who  live  in  my  beloved 
fatherland." 

In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Zeigenhagen  of  London, 
he  expresses  himself  as  follows  :  <'  This  will  pro- 
bably be  the  last  letter  which  I  shall  write  to 
you,  with  feeble  hands  and  weak  eyes.  I  am  so 
reduced  with  illness,  that  I  can  scarcely  walk  a 
few  steps,  and  am  unable  to  discharge  any  of 
the  duties  of  my  office.  All  that  I  do  is,  to 
prepare  myself  for  a  happy  exit  out  of  this 
world,  by  the  word  of  God  and  prayer,  through 
the  assistance  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  And  God  be 
praised,  I  can  and  may  say,  'If  we  live,  we 
live  unto  the  Lord ;  if  we  die,  we  die  unto  the 
Lord :  whether  we  live  therefore  or  die,  we  are 
the  Lord's.'     How  great   is  the   happiness   to 


144  THE    SALZBURGERS 


possess  this  knowledge !  Praised  and  blessed  Le 
God  for  the  unspeakable  gift  of  his  only-begot- 
ten Son  to  us  sinners ;  to  me  also,  the  chief  of 
them ;  with  whom  he  has  given  all  we  now  have 
and  enjoy  in  life  and  in  death,  as  well  as  what 
we  shall  forever  and  ever  enjoy  in  the  house  of 
our  Father  in  the  sweetest  and  most  blessed 
communion  with  the  Triune  God !  It  is  a  faith- 
ful saying — I  shall  be  happy  forever.  My  eyes 
shall  behold  the  source  of  all  joy.  I  know  in 
whom  I  have  believed,  and  I  am  sure  there  is 
laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness." 

A  few  months  before  his  death  there  was  a 
slight  improvement  in  his  health,  and  he  resumed 
his  duties  as  pastor.  For  seven  successive  Sab- 
baths he  preached  in  Jerusalem  church,  nor 
would  he  spare  himself,  notwithstanding  the  en- 
treaties of  his  brethren,  and  their  offers  to  per- 
form his  duties  for  him.  His  general  reply  was, 
<'  I  have  soon  to  appear  w^ith  my  hearers  before 
the  judgment-scat  of  Christ,  and  I  do  not  wish 
that  one  of  them  should  accuse  me  there  of 
having  been  the  cause  of  his  condemnation." 
His  last  sermon  was  preached  on  the  fifteenth 
Sunday  after  Trinity,  the  subject  of  which  was, 
"  The  happinpss  of  the  true  Christian.'' 

From  that  time  his  disease  seemed  to  attack 
him  with  renewed  violence.  The  swelling  in  his 
feet  increased,  and  he  was  no  longer  able  to  leave 
the  house.     His  colleagues  testify  that  he  bore 


AND  Tni:n^  dt^f-tkndantp.  145 

the  severest  pain  -with  the  meekness  of  a  himb, 
and  with  perfect  resignation  to  the  will  of  God. 
During  a  visit  of  Pastor  Lembke,  he  expressed 
the  joyful  state  of  his  mind  in  the  following 
terms :  "  I  cannot  describe  how  happy  I  am  in 
my  solitude,  while  I  enjoy  the  presence  and 
communion  with  my  Saviour :  happy !  oh,  inde- 
scribably happy.  From  the  7th  to  the  19th  of 
November,  a  little  gruel  was  all  the  refreshment 
he  could  take.  On  the  14th,  he  desired  to  unite 
with  his  Christian  friends  in  the  celebration  of 
the  Lord's  Supper.  Previous  to  the  celebration 
of  this  ordinance,  he  remarked  to  Mr.  Lembke : 
"  I  acknowledfrc  our  Protestant  relio^ion  as  a 
precious  treasure  in  life  and  in  death  !  In  my- 
self I  discover  naught  but  sin,  but  I  know  that 
God  has  granted  me  forgiveness  for  Christ's  sake." 
On  the  18th,  Mr.  Bolzius  became  suddenly  much 
worse,  and  the  family  sent  for  Mr.  Lembke.  On 
reaching  the  house  Mr.  Lembke  found  him  very 
much  prostrated,  but  still  perfectly  rational. 
Mr.  Lembke  addressed  him  in  these  words : 
"  Father,  I  will  that  they  whom  thou  hast  given 
me,  be  with  me  where  I  am,  that  they  may  see 
my  glory,  which  thou  hast  given  me."  Mr. 
Bolzius  repeated  the  words :  "  That  they  may 
see  my  glory;"  and  then  continued:  "Ah,  how 
delightful  it  is  in  yonder  heaven !  how  delightful 
to  be  with  Christ !"  His  bodily  sufferings  seeming 
to  increase,  he  patiently  remarked,  "  This  is  a 


146  THE    SALZTJUROERS 


day  of  trial."  In  the  evening  his  friends,  sup- 
posing that  his  dissolution  was  approaching  ad- 
justed his  pillow  that  he  might  rest  the  easier ; 
but  he  almost  immediately  revived,  and  said, 
»'  Not  yet ;  I  have  still  to  bear  my  sufferings  for 
one  night  longer."  The  next  morning,  at  six 
o'clock,  being  the  19th  o^  November,  1765,  this 
venerable  servant  of  Christ  calmly  resigned  his 
spirit  into  the  hands  of  God,  in  the  sixty-second 
year  of  his  eventful  and  useful  life.  The  day 
following,  his  remains  were  carried  to  Jerusalem 
church,  when  Mr.  Lembke  and  Mr.  R-abenhorst 
addressed  the  large  assemblage,  who  had  col- 
lected from  all  parts  of  the  surrounding  country, 
to  pay  a  just  tribute  of  respect  to  one  who  had 
been  a  father  to  them  in  more  senses  than  one, 
and  to  whose  wise  counsels  and  faithful  and 
zealous  ministrations  they  were  indebted,  under 
God,  for  much  of  their  temporal  and  spiritual 
prosperity.  The  scene  was  a  truly  affecting 
one,  as  many  of  the  aged  Salzburgers  who  had 
been  his  companions  in  all  his  travels  and  perils, 
both  by  sea  and  by  land,  and  who  had  shared 
his  sympathies  and  his  prayers,  stood  and  looked 
for  the  last  time  upon  the  countenance  of  their 
best  earthly  friend,  and  bedewed  his  corpse  with 
their  tears.  He  was  buried  in  the  cemetery, 
near  Jerusalem  church,  where  his  remains  still 
repose.  It  is,  however,  a  melancholy  truth,  that 
no   monument   marks   his   resting-place,  and  a 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  147 


stranger  vould  seek  his  grave  in  vain.  Never- 
theless, he  sleeps  none  the  less  sweetly  and  hope- 
fully, and  has  left  in  the  hearts  of  the  good  and 
wise  a  monument  more  durable  than  brass.  His 
memory  wdll  remain  green  as  long  as  Lutheran- 
ism  has  a  name  in  the  South,  or  there  is  virtue 
and  intelligence  enough  among  the  people  of 
Georgia  to  appreciate  his  almost  apostolic  la- 
bours, and  his  life  of  long  and  arduous  and 
patient  toil  in  the  cause  of  his  divine  Redeemer 
and  the  persecuted  and  exiled  Salzburgers.  Mr. 
Bolzius  left  only  tw^o  children.  He  had  lost 
two  before  his  death,  whose  sickness  and  death 
are  supposed  to  have  been  caused  by  opening 
some  of  the  swamp-lands  near  Ebenezer  for  the 
cultivation  of  rice.  At  the  time  of  his  decease 
his  only  son  was  a  student  at  Halle,  and  it  is 
believed  that  he  never  returned  to  this  country. 
When  Mr.  Muhlenburg  visited  Ebenezer,  in 
1774,  an  only  maiden  daughter  of  Mr.  Bolzius 
(Miss  Catherine)  was  residing  in  the  family  of 
her  aunt,  the  Widow  Lembke.  Her  subsequent 
history  could  not  be  ascertained.  It  is  a  melan- 
choly thought  that  no  one  of  his  descendants 
survived  to  perpetuate  his  name  in  this  country, 
and  that  the  whole  family  have  become  extinct. 
Nevertheless,  they  live  in  a  purer  and  brighter 
sphere,  and  though  lost  to  the  church  on  earth, 
they  no  doubt  constitute  a  part  of  the  church 
triumphant  in  heaven. 


148  THE    SALZBUllGEKS 


CHAPTER  VII. 

State  of  affairs  at  Ebenezer  consequent  upon  the  death  of  Mr. 
Bolzius— Increase  of  popuhvtion  and  of  ministerial  h\bour — 
Transfer  of  trust  to  Mr.  Rabenhorst — Harmon}'  between  tho 
two  pastors — Jerusalem  church  built  at  Ebenezer — Description 
of  the  edifice — The  Swan,  Luther's  coat  of  arms — Death  of 
Mr.  Lembke — His  character  as  a  preacher — Gottlieb  Snider — 
Rev.  C.  F.  Tricbner  sent  over  as  successor  to  Mr.  Lembke — 
His  character — Marries  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Lembke — Injudi- 
cious selection — Division  in  the  church — Controversy  between 
Messrs.  Rabenhorst  and  Triebner — Dr.  H.  M.  Muhlenburg  ar- 
rives at  Ebenezer — Object  of  his  mission — His  prudent  and 
judicious  conduct — The  grounds  of  dispute  stated — Elders  pre- 
fer charges  against  Mr.  Triebner — Origin  of  the  difficulty — Dr. 
Muhlenburg's  efforts  to  reconcUo  the  parties — His  views  of  tho 
case — Opinion  of  Mr.  Triebner — Plan  of  settlement  proposed — 
Rconciliation — Dr.  Muhlenburg's  reflections — His  opinion  of 
Mr.  Rabenhorst — Exculpates  him  from  all  censure — His  esti- 
mation of  Mr.  Rabenhorst  as  a  man  and  as  a  preacher — Dr. 
Muhlenburg's  labours  among  the  Salzburgers — Saves  the  church 
property  from  alienation. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Bolzius  devolved  upon 
Messrs.  Lembke  and  Rabenhorst,  his  successors, 
the  entire  charge  of  the  affairs  of  the  colony. 
We  have  already  seen  that,  owing  to  the  emigra- 
tion from  Germany,  and  the  rapid  natural  in- 
crease of  the  population,  the  field  of  ministerial 
labour  had  become  very  large,  and  the  pastoral 
duties  necessarily  arduous.     Now,  that  one  of 


AND   TIIEIi;    DESCENDANTS.  140 


tlieir  number  had  been  called  to  his  reward, 
these  labours  would  be  very  much  increased, 
and  their  cares  and  anxieties  greatly  multiplied. 
It  has  already  been  stated,  that  some  time  pre- 
vious to  his  death,  Mr.  Bolzius  had  assigned  to 
Mr.  Lembke  the  entire  charge  of  the  mill 
establishments,  and  all  the  property  belonging  to 
the  congregations  at  Ebcnezer.  This  was  done 
in  1757.  In  1767,  Mr.  Lembke  made  a  similar 
transfer  to  Mr.  Rabenhorst:  this  latter  transfer 
was  made  two  years  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Bolzius. 

These  two  faithful  men  laboured  harmoniously 
and  successfully  in  the  discharge  of  their  heavy 
civil  and  religious  obligations,  and  gave  entire 
satisfaction  to  those  with  whose  interests  they 
were  intrusted.  It  has  been  found  impractica- 
ble to  gather  much  information  in  regard  to  the 
administration  of  affairs  at  Ebenezer  during  the 
lifetime  of  Mr.  Lembke.  The  most  important 
measure  was  the  building  of  the  large  brick 
church,  which  still  stands  near  the  banks  of  the 
Savannah  river.  A  view  of  the  church  may  be 
seen  on  the  opposite  page.  The  materials  of 
Avhich  this  church  was  constructed,  were  pre- 
pared for  the  most  part  among  the  Salzburgers 
themselves,  but  the  funds  necessary  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  its  erection  were  contributed  by  their 
friends  in  Germany.  It  is  stated  in  Mr.  Muhlen- 
burg's  journal,  that  the  sum  received  for  this 
13- 


150  THE    SALZBURGERS 


purpose  from  Europe  amounted  to  something  over 
one  thousand  dollars,  and  Mr.  Rabenhorst  gave 
upward  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The 
church  is  built  of  brick,  eighty  by  sixty  feet,  and 
was  originally  designed  for  a  two-story  edifice. 
It  is  surmounted  by  a  neat  belfry,  on  the  top  of 
w^hich  is  a  swan,  which  was  said  to  have  been 
Luther's  coat  of  arms,  and  is  frequently  placed 
on  the  spire  of  Lutheran  churches  in  Europe.'^ 
The  edifice  is  a  plain  but  substantial  one,  and  is 
in  every  respect  creditable  to  those  who  planned 
and  erected  it.  But  reference  will  be  made  to 
it  again. 

It  has  not  been  found  practicable  to  ascer- 
tain how  long  Mr.  Lembke  continued  his  labours 
among  the  Salzburgers ;  nor  under  what  circum- 
stances he  closed  his  career.  The  most  general 
opinion  is,  that  he  departed  this  life  a  short  time 
before  the  Revolutionary  War.  Certain  it  is, 
that  he  was  dead  in  1774,  when  Mr.  Muhlen- 
burg  visited  Ebenezer.  Although  there  are  no 
means  of  ascertaining  the  particulars  connected 
with  his  dying  moments,  it  is  not  hazarding  too 
much  to  assert,  that  like  his  predecessors,  his 
end  was  peaceful  and  triumphant.    This  we  have 

*  There  is  a  tradition,  that  when  John  Huss,  the  Bohemian 
martyr,  was  burned  by  order  of  the  Council  of  Constance,  he  re- 
marked, "You  this  day  burn  a  goose,  (Huss  signifying  goose;)  but 
a  hundred  years  hence  a  swan  will  arise,  whom  you  will  not  be 
able  to  burn  :''  in  the  Bohemian,  Luther  signifies  a  "  Bwan." 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  1,5'! 


a  right  to  infer  from  his  character.  That  he 
Tvas  an  eminently  pious  man,  is  universally  ad- 
mitted by  all  -who  knew  him.  It  was  our  privi- 
lege, in  the  years  1845  and  1846,  to  converse 
with  a  venerable  father  in  Israel,  (Mr.  Gottlieb 
Snider,)  who  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  more 
than  four-score  years,  and  who  had  known  Mr. 
Lembke  personally,  and  had  often  heard  him 
preach.  He  bore  strong  testimony  to  the  learn- 
ing, piety,  and  zeal  of  Mr.  Lembke,  and  seemed 
to  regard  him  with  the  highest  veneration.  He 
stated,  too,  that  this  was  the  general  estimate  in 
which  he  was  held  by  the  entire  congregation. 
No  fears,  then,  need  be  entertained  in  reference 
to  the  end  of  such  a  man. 

Upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lembke,  the  Rev. 
Christopher  F.  Triebner  was  sent  over  by  the 
reverend  fathers  in  Germany,  as  an  adjunct  to 
Mr.  Rabenhorst.  Mr.  Tribner  was  a  young 
man  of  fine  talents,  but  very  impetuous  in  his 
character,  and  seems  to  have  possessed  but  a 
very  small  share  of  the  humility  and  piety  which 
characterized  his  predecessors.  Shortly  after 
his  arrival  he  married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Lembke, 
who  was  also  a  niece  of  Mr.  Bolzius.  His 
selection  as  an  assistant  pastor  at  Ebenezer  was 
attended  with  the  most  disastrous  consequences 
to  the  congregation;  for  he  succeeded  in  raising 
such  turmoil  and  strife  among  the  members,  that 
Mr.  Muhlcnburg  was  sent  on  a  special  mis^^iun 


152  THE   SALZEUEGEKS 


to  Ebenezer,  in  1774,  to  heal  the  difficulties 
•which  Mr.  Triebner  had  occasioned,  and,  if  possi- 
ble, to  save  the  congregation  from  ruin. 

Dr.  Muhlenburg  arrived  at  Ebenezer  in  No- 
vember, 1774,  having  been  especially  deputed 
by  the  Lutheran  pastors  in  Europe  (under  whose 
spiritual  care  the  Salzburgers  had  been  placed) 
to  investigate  the  grievances  complained  of  seve- 
rally by  Messrs.  Triebner  and  Rabenhorst.  As 
was  to  have  been  expected  from  his  wisdom  and 
experience.  Dr.  Muhlenburg  managed  this  un- 
pleasant matter  with  a  great  deal  of  prudence 
and  good  judgment.  His  first  step  was  to  call 
upon  the  pastors  personally,  and  after  a  friendly 
interview  with  them,  to  request  that  each  one 
would  furnish  him  with  a  written  statement  of 
his  grievances.  This  was  accordingly  done,  and 
each  party  presented  a  long  list  of  complaints. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  go  fully  into  particulars, 
though  the  documents  might  be  interesting,  espe- 
cially to  the  descendants  of  the  Salzburgers.  It 
must  suffice  to  state,  that  Mr.  Triebner  accused 
Mr.  Rabenhorst,  among  other  things,  1.  That 
Mr.  Rabenhorst  had  appropriated  to  his  private 
use  certain  lands  and  other  property  belonging 
to  the  church;  2.  That  by  his  mismanagement 
the  mill  establishments  had  greatly  depreciated 
in  value,  and  were  nearly  ruined;  3.  That  he 
had  wilfully  departed  from  the  church  regula- 
tions established  by  the  fathers  in  Europe;  4. 


AND    TIIEin    bKSCEIsDANTS.  153 


That  Mr.  Rabcnhorst's  obligation  for  six  hun- 
dred and  forty-nine  pounds  was  five  years  with- 
out date,  and  that  the  interest  was  computed 
sometimes  at  thirty  pounds  and  again  at  forty 
pounds,  whereas  tlie  Rev.  Urlsperger  fixed  it  at 
fifty-two  pounds;  5.  That  Mr.  llabenhorst  had 
assumed  to  himself  the  position  and  prerogatives 
of  first  pastor,  and  had  attempted  to  exercise 
undue  supremacy ;  6.  That  Mr.  llabenhorst  and 
his  party,  partly  through  craft  and  partly" 
through  violence,  had  obtained  a  majority  of 
votes,  and  caused  the  church  to  be  locked 
against  Mr.  Triebner  and  his  party,  &c.  &c. 

On  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Rabenhorst  com- 
plained, 1.  That,  shortly  after  the  arrival  of  Mr. 
Triebner,  he  attempted  to  create  distrust  and 
dissatisfaction  among  the  members,  by  accusing 
Mr.  Rabenhorst  of  bad  management  of  the 
schools,  and  of  making  unauthorized  changes 
and  innovations  in  other  regulations;  2.  That 
he  had  slandered  the  arrangement  of  the  mill 
establishment,  as  though  Mr.  Rabenhorst  in- 
tended it  for  his  own  use;  3.  He  denied  that 
Mr.  Rabenhorst  had  any  legal  call  at  Ebenezer ; 
4.  He  had  refused  to  administer  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per to  Mr.  Rabenhorst;  5.  Besides  the  charge 
of  dishonesty,  he  represented  Mr.  Rabenhorst 
as  a  false  teacher,  "a  pretender,  and  destroyer  of 
the  church;  6.  He  abolished  the  fellowship  of 
colleagues  to  confer  and  pray  with  one  another. 


154  THE   SALZBURGERS 


lest  his  affected  superiority  might  not  be  sus- 
tained; 7.  When  Mr.  Rabenhorst  went  to  Eben- 
ezer  to  preach,  Mr.  Triebner  invented  all  kinds  of 
mischief  and  ill-will,  ran  out  of  church,  laughed 
at  the  preaching,  and  occasionally  criticised  the 
sermon,  &c.  &c. 

Besides  these  complaints  drawn  up  by  Mr. 
Rabenhorst,  the  deacons  likewise  presented 
charges  against  Mr.  Triebner  in  writing,  which 
were  laid  before  Dr.  Muhlenburg  in  due  form. 
The  principal  were,  1.  Ingratitude  toward  Mr. 
Rabenhorst,  who  had  received  him  as  a  brother, 
and  treated  him  with  every  mark  of  kindness ; 
2.  Avarice  or  covetousness,  in  trying  to  get  con- 
trol of  the  church  funds;  3.  Anger  and  re- 
venge ;  4.  Pride  and  arrogance ;  5.  Hatred,  envy, 
and  malevolence.  There  are  specifications  un- 
der each  of  these  heads,  but  it  is  not  necessary 
to  state  them.  These  charges  were  signed  by 
the  deacons,  with  this  pointed  remark  : 

"  This  is  a  faint  outline  of  the  image  of  our  Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran  minister,  Christopher  Frederick  Triebner. 
May  God  have  mercy  on  him  and  each  one  of  us  ! 

John  Adam  Treutlen, 
Ulrich  Neidlinger, 
Christian  Steiner, 
Joseph  Schubtrein, 
Samuel  Krauss, 
Jacob  C.  Waldhauer. 

It  may  be  proper  here  to  state,  that  one 
cause  of  the  diflficulty  between  these  two  minis- 


AND    TIIKTU    DE.-rENDANTS.  1 


ters  originated  in  an  election  -which  was  held  for 
church  officers.  Mr.  Rabenhorst's  party  ^vas 
successful,  but  their  right  to  enter  upon  the 
discharge  of  their  duties  was  strongly  contested, 
and  when  they  took  possession  of  the  church, 
they  had  to  hold  it  by  force  and  defend  them- 
selves with  swords,  &c.  The  deacons  claiming 
office  under  Mr.  Triebner,  as  representatives  of 
his  party,  were,  Messrs.  John  Caspar  Wertsch, 
John  Floerl,  Christopher  Kramer,  Matthew  Bid- 
dcnbach,  John  Paulus,  and  Paul  MUller. 

Dr.  Muhlenburg,  having  examined  all  the 
documents,  and  having  in  vain  attempted  to 
effect  a  private  reconciliation  between  the 
parties,  consented  to  hold  a  public  conference 
with  the  pastors  and  their  respective  boards  of 
deacons,  and  investigate  fully  all  the  matters  in 
dispute.  The  23d  day  of  November  was  ap- 
pointed for  this  purpose.  Dr.  Muhlenburg 
makes  this  minute  in  his  journal  under  this 
date:  "To-day,  I  expected  severe  and  heart- 
rending labour,  and  found  myself  troubled  and 
entirely  unfitted  for  the  work.  The  old  and 
new  vestry,  witnesses  of  both  contending  parties, 
together  with  both  the  ministers,  are  to  meet  to 
attempt  a  reunion.  I  prayed  to  God  secretly, 
but  could  obtain  no  confidence,  and  felt  like  a 
poor  sinner  who  is  being  led  forth  to  execution." 
*  *  =^  ct  I  had  previously  advised  my  brother 
Triebner  how,  with  a  few  words,  he  might  end 


156  THE    SALZBURG EKS 


the  complicated  and  perplexing  strife,  viz.  if  he 
•would  say  before  the  meeting,  'I  have  erred, 
and  ask  your  cordial  forgiveness,  and  wherein 
you  have  wronged  me,  that  I  will  forgive  with 
all  my  heart  and  forget.'  For,  under  all  the 
circumstances,  I  could  impartially  learn  that  in 
many  things  he  had  acted  unreasonably,  not 
according  to  grace,  but  according  to  our  de- 
praved nature." 

The  journal  of  Dr.  Muhlenburg  contains  a 
detailed  account  of  the  various  propositions  for 
a  compromise,  but  it  is  not  necessary  to  state 
the  particulars.  It  is,  perhaps,  important  to 
give  Dr.  Muhlenburg's  view  of  the  case,  accord- 
ing to  the  impression  made  upon  his  mind. 
Speaking  of  Mr.  Tribner,  he  says :  ''  He  en- 
deavoured to  defend  himself  against  the  charge 
of  avarice,  and  his  party  testified  very  ear- 
nestly in  his  behalf.  In  regard  to  the  remaining 
counts,  various  instances  were  adduced  and  testi- 
mony given.  He  endeavoured,  however,  partly 
to  justify  and  partly  to  deny,  and  to  turn  it  to 
the  best  advantage  for  himself,  and  began  to 
weep,  and  said,  to-day  was  the  day  of  his  visi- 
tation; he  must  suffer  and  leave  it  all  to  the 
righteous  Judge.  I  aided  as  much  as  I  could, 
with  a  good  conscience,  and  said,  that  in  strife 
and  enmity,  faults  and  errors  of  hastiness  were 
converted  into  crimes,  but  where  love  reigned, 
they  were  covered  up,  or  endured  but  for  a  little 


AND   TIIETR   DESCENDANTS.  157 


season.  But  as  he  thought  he  had  not  erred, 
on  the  contrary  had  acted  according  to  grace, 
conscience,  and  the  instructions  of  the  reverend 
fathers,  I  therefore  adduced  certain  points 
■wherein  he  had  erred,  and  said :  '  That  even  a 
subject  of  grace  carried  'svithin  him  the  root  or 
seed  of  all  the  aforesaid  vices,  and  if  he  w'atched 
not,  could  soon  be  overtaken  by  them,  and  that 
we  must  avoid  also  the  appearance  of  them.' 
He  wept  again,  and  said:  Such  vices  as  those 
mentioned  were  mortal  sins,  and  if  they  could 
be  proved  against  him,  he  would  be  unworthy 
of  his  office,  much  less  could  he  continue  a  mi- 
nister if  the  newly-elected  vestrymen  remained  ; 
he  would  rather  remain  by  himself  with  his  little 
flock.  I  told  him,  finally,  that  obedience  and 
love  had  induced  me  to  take  this  fatiguing  jour- 
ney to  visit  them,  that,  with  the  help  of  God, 
peace  and  unity  might  be  restored.  But  if  they 
were  determined  to  continue  in  discord  and  be 
ruined,  then  my  visit  and  experiment  were 
ended ;  and  to-morrow,  with  a  sad  and  heavy 
heart,  I  would  depart  and  report  the  result.  I 
had  hoped,  by  remaining  over  winter,  that  all 
things  might  yet  be  restored  to  order,  but  if  this 
was  the  way,  it  was  useless  for  me  to  stay.  Mr. 
Wertsch  and  others  said  I  should  not  adjourn 
yet,  but  try  another  proposition.  I  replied,  that 
the  following  was  my  advice :  1.  That  they 
should  bury  all  their  former  contentions   and 

14 


158  THE    SALZBURGETIS 


offences,  and  cordially  forgive  each  other,  as 
there  were  faults  on  all  sides ;  2.  To  open  the 
Jerusalem  church  for  Pastor  Triebner,  so  that 
both  ministers  might,  unitedly,  perform  their  mi- 
nisterial duties  in  the  congregation ;  3.  I  would 
endeavour,  with  the  aid  of  the  ministers,  &c.,  to 
prepare  a  plan  for  the  better  conduct  of  the  whole 
matter.  Pastor  Rabenhorst  came  to  the  rescue, 
and  supported  the  proposition  with  a  warm  ex- 
hortation. I  gave  my  hand  to  each  one  present, 
and  said  if  in  aught  I  had  offended  or  wounded 
them,  they  should  forgive  me.  Pastor  Raben- 
horst did  likewise,  and  Pastor  Treibner  followed 
and  said  he  would  forgive  his  enemies,  and  would 
implore  God  to  forgive  them  also ;  and  thus  we 
separated.  Pastor  Rabenhorst  and  I  ate  at  Mr. 
Triebner's,  and  at  evening  returned  home.  I 
was  so  tortured  and  worried  in  body  and  spirit, 
that  I  had  to  lie  down.  0  Lord !  how  much 
has  not  the  enemy  of  man  already  won,  if  he 
can  effect  a  breach  between  ministers  and  col- 
leagues in  a  church  !  What  hateful  mischief  he 
does  to  the  sheep,  when  he  has  disarmed  the 
shepherds  !  How  despised  is  the  holy  office  and 
its  dignity  in  the  sight  of  Chamites  and  Canaan- 
ites,  when  they  have  seen  the  nakedness  of  the 
fathers,  and  scoff  at  it!" 

It  is  gratifying  to  state  that  the  judicious 
efforts  of  Dr.  Muhlenburg  to  effect  a  reconcilia- 
tion between  these  disaffected  parties  were  hap- 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  150 


pily  crowned  with  a  good  measure  of  success,  as 
will  be  seen  from  the  above  extract.  But  feel- 
ings of  alienation  grew  out  of  these  contentions, 
which  were  never  fully  pacified,  and  the  bitter 
fruits  growing  out  of  this  unfortunate  rupture 
were  seen  for  many  years  after.  For  it  has 
been  the  sad  experience  of  all  who  have  ever 
had  the  misfortune  to  be  connected,  even  re- 
motely, with  such  schisms,  that  even  though 
they  may  seem  to  be  healed,  the  asperities  of 
feeling  which  result  from  them  are  frequently 
only  smouldered,  and  it  requires  a  large  measure 
of  grace  to  entirely  eradicate  and  destroy  them. 
It  is  no  wonder,  therefore,  that  Dr.  Muhlenburg, 
deeply  sensible  of  the  ruinous  tendency  of  all 
such  ruptures  between  Christians,  should  express 
himself  so  strongly  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
above  extract  from  his  journal. 

In  a  subsequent  part  of  his  journal  Dr.  Muh- 
lenburg states,  that  having  examined  all  the 
church  records,  he  was  satisfied  that  "Mr.  Ra- 
benhorst  did  not  acquire  the  ministers'  plantation 
through  fraud  and  evil  practices,  as  Mr.  Triebner 
and  evil-disposed  persons  had  complained ;  but 
that  Mr.  Bolzius  rejoiced  that  it  had  been  sold, 
and  that  Mr.  Rabenhorst  took  it  at  X649  16s. 
5d.,  with  the  consent  of  the  reverend  fathers  in 
a  regular  manner,  and  gave  his  obligation  for  it ; 
and  the  fund  was  thereby  secured."  This  state- 
ment fully  vindicates  Mr.  Rabenhorst  from  the 


160  THE   SALZBURGER3 


most  serious  charge  which  Mr.  Triebner  and  his 
associates  brought  against  him.  Further  on  in 
his  journal,  Dr.  Muhlenburg,  speaking  of  Mr. 
Rabenhorst,  bears  this  strong  testimony  in  his 
favour :  "  When  I  see  with  my  own  eyes,  and 
hear  with  my  own  ears  in  intercourse,  that  the 
man  possesses  a  heart  of  grace,  excellent  gifts 
to  preach,  and  still  more  aptness  to  catechise; 
that  he  insists  upon  a  new  creature  in  Christ 
Jesus,  upon  radical  repentance,  living  faith,  and 
daily  renewal ;  and  that  he  adorns  his  sound  doc- 
trine with  an  edifying,  sober,  and  godly  life,  &c.; 
when  I  reflect  on  all  this,  I  must  wonder  in  my 
simplicity,  what  could  have  been  the  preponde- 
rating reasons  which  prevented  our  reverend 
fathers  from  appointing  Rev.  Rabenhorst  first 
preacher  after  the  death  of  Rev.  Lembke ;  and 
even  induced  them  to  place  at  his  side,  as  second 
preacher,  a  young  man  who,  although  well-mean- 
ing and  gifted,  was  nevertheless  inexperienced, 
passionate,  and  a  dangerous  novice ;  and  more- 
over to  continue  Mr.  Rabenhorst  as  third 
preacher !  Most  heartily  would  I  have  regarded 
myself  as  fortunate,  if  the  Lord  had  lent  us  in 
Pennsylvania  a  labourer  like  Mr.  Rabenhorst, 
and  I  would  rejoice  even  in  my  last  days  to  be 
the  adjunct  of  such  a  man.  *  *  Although  Mr. 
Rabenhorst  had  been  most  grossly  wronged,  and 
had  been  publicly  assailed  in  honour,  ofiice,  and 
reputation,  yet  he  was  the  first,  with  tears,  to 


AND    TllEIll    DESCENDANTS.  IGl 


extend  his  hand  to  his  offender,  to  forgive 
every  thing,  and  to  ask  forgiveness."  Dr.  Muh- 
lenburg  closes  his  investigation  of  this  whole 
matter  with  these  remarks ;  "In  my  humble 
estimation,  Mr.  Rabenhorst  is  the  only  man  pos- 
sessed of  understanding  and  experience  who, 
with  Divine  assistance,  can  save  the  Ebenezer 
congregations  from  destruction.  If  the  reverend 
fathers  will  only  appoint  him  first  preacher,  will 
hold  Mr.  Triebner  tighter  in  hand,  and  honour 
Mr.  Rabenhorst  with  a  paternal  and  familiar 
correspondence,  all  may  yet  be  well." 

Dr.  Muhlenburg  remained  three  months  in 
Georgia,  during  which  time  he  preached  fre- 
quently in  all  the  churches  of  the  Salzburgers — 
Jerusalem,  Bethany,  Zion,  and  at  Goshen ;  and 
extended  his  visits  also  to  Savannah.  His 
journal  contains  a  great  many  interesting  de- 
tails, which  are,  however,  not  necessary  for  our 
purpose.  This  sojourn  among  the  Salzburgers 
was  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  whole  settle- 
ment. Beside  effecting  an  amicable  adjustment 
of  the  unfortunate  breach  which  had  occurred 
between  the  pastors  and  their  respective  adhe- 
rents, his  quick  penetration  led  him  to  perceive, 
that  in  consequence  of  the  manner  in  which  the 
lands  belonging  to  the  churches  at  Ebenezer  had 
been  granted,  the  whole  property  was  placed  at 
the  mercy  of  the  Church  of  England,  to  be  con- 
verted to  the  benefit  of  that  church,  whenever 
11- 


162  THE   SALZBURGERS 


occasion  might  present.  The  words  of  the 
grant  were,  "  In  trust  for  a  glebe  for  St.  Mat- 
thew's Parish,  for  the  use  of  the  ministers  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  in  Ebenezer."  On  this 
point  Dr.  Muhlenburg  remarks  :  "  The  grant  to 
Jerusalem  church  as  the  principal  or  mother 
church  in  the  village  of  Ebenezer,  is  so  strongly 
arranged  and  secured  that  no  help  is  left  for  it. 
Mr.  John  Wertsch  managed  the  matter  entirely 
alone,  and  suffered  himself  to  be  outwitted. 
He  regrets  it,  but  that  does  not  alter  the  case." 
This  Vr^as  also  true  in  relation  to  the  church  and 
school-house  called  Bethany.  The  object  was 
defined  to  be,  '*  In  St.  Matthew's  Parish,  for  the 
use  of  a  church  and  school-house,  and  for  the 
support  of  the  minister  and  master  thereof." 
Of  this  Dr.  Muhlenburg  says :  <'  This  is  unwit- 
tingly cut  out  for  the  Church  of  England,  as 
there  is  only  one  church,  strictly  so  speaking, 
established  in  the  British  dominions." 

Dr.  Muhlenburg  was  seriously  troubled  (as 
well  he  might  be)  when  he  discovered  the  critical 
position  in  which  these  grants  placed  the  church 
property  at  Ebenezer.  He,  therefore,  visited 
Savannah,  and  had  an  interview  with  Mr.  Ha- 
bersham, the  President  of  the  King's  Council, 
and  Anthony  Stokes,  Esq.,  Chief  Justice  for  the 
province,  in  which  he  represented  the  gross  in- 
justice and  wrong  which  the  Salzburgers  were 
likely  to  suffer,  unless   these  grants  could  be 


AND   THEIIl    DESCENDANTS.  163 


altered.  He  also  drew  up  an  able  manifesto,  in 
"VN'hich  he  clearly  set  forth  the  just  claims  of  the 
Salzburgers,  and  pointed  out  the  distinctive  Lu- 
theran character  of  the  churches  which  had 
been  established  at  Ebenezer  and  its  vicinity. 
The  efforts  of  Dr.  Muhlenburg  to  secure  the 
rights  of  the  Salzburgers  were  successful.  The 
grants  were  accordingly  altered,  and  the  pro- 
perty forever  secured  to  the  Lutheran  Church. 
For  this  act  alone,  the  Salzburgers  and  their 
descendants,  and  in  fact  the  whole  Lutheran 
Church,  owe  Dr.  Muhlenburg  a  lasting  debt  of 
gratitude. 


164  THE   SALZBURGER3 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Dr.  Muhlenburg  still  at  Ebenezer — Church  discipline — Views  and 
practices  of  the  foiinders  of  American  Lutheran  Church — Evils 
arising  from  want  of  discipline — False  views  on  the  subject — 
The  discipline  adopted  at  Ebenezer  in  1774,  and  duties  of  pas- 
tors, officers,  and  church  members  defined — List  of  church 
members  who  signed  the  discipline,  as  certified  by  Dr.  Muhlen- 
burg— Settlements  at  Abercorn  and  Goshen — Mr.  Knox  buys 
the  lands  at  Abercorn — Moravian  missionaries  brought  over  to 
preach  to  the  Negroes — Labours  of  the  Moravians  at  Goshen — 
Fears  of  Dr.  Muhlenburg — Moravians  not  successful — Advice 
to  them  by  one  of  the  Salzburgers — Fears  of  Dr.  Muhlenburg 
not  realized — Moravians  leave  the  settlement — Dr.  Muhlen- 
burg's  successful  labours  at  Ebenezer — He  leaves  Georgia  and 
returns  to  Philadelphia — Condition  of  the  congregations  at 
Ebenezer — Reflections. 

In  another  place  reference  has  been  made  to 
the  discipline  "which  Dr.  Muhlenburg  drafted  for 
the  better  government  of  the  congregation  in 
and  around  Ebenezer.  It  is,  perhaps,  appro- 
priate that  some  extracts  from  that  document 
should  be  here  inserted,  as  this  subject  is  pro- 
perly connected  with  his  visit  to  Ebenezer. 
The  extracts  may  be  regarded  by  some  readers 
as  rather  too  long,  but  they  are  made  so  pur- 
posely, to  show  what  where  the  opinions  of  the 
founders  of  American  Lutheranism  upon  the  sub- 
ject of  church  discipline.     This  is  necessary  for 


AND   THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  165 


two  reasons  :  1.  There  are  many  professedly  Lu- 
theran preachers  in  the  United  States  who,  under 
a  mistaken  view  of  Christian  liberty,  have  never 
attempted  to  throw  any  restraints  around  the  de- 
portment of  the  people  of  their  charge.  Hence, 
many  Lutheran  church  members  are  very  lax  in 
their  notions  of  Christian  propriety,  and  parti- 
cipate in  all  the  fashionable  follies  of  life,  seem- 
ingly without  any  compunctions  of  conscience. 
By  this  course  of  conduct  the  Lutheran  Church 
has  been  injured  very  seriously  in  the  estimation 
of  other  enlightened  Christian  denominations, 
and  in  many  sections  of  country  has  become 
almost  a  by-word.  Our  church  is  regarded  as 
a  body  of  unconverted  professors,  whose  lives 
are  a  scandal  to  the  Christian  name ;  and  the 
impression  has  been  made  upon  many  minds, 
that  we  never  have  attempted  to  check  the  im- 
proprieties and  immorality  of  which  our  mem- 
bers have  sometimes  been  guilty,  simply  because 
we  had  no  discipline  which  could  reach  and  cor- 
rect their  misdemeanors.  It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  this  stigma  will  now  be  removed,  and  that 
the  Christian  public  will  judge  us  more  favour- 
ably in  the  future.  2.  Some  of  our  ministers, 
and  many  of  our  church  members,  have  been 
disposed  to  look  upon  a  judicious  and  rigid 
church  discipline,  as  a  "we?f  measure' — an  inno- 
vation upon  the  uses  of  our  fathers.  In  some 
portions  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  attempts  have 


166  THE    SALZBURGERS 


been  made  by  designing  men,  to  pander  to  the 
prejudices  and  corruptions  of  the  human  heart, 
by  asserting  that  our  pious  forefathers  never 
had  any  discipline  in  their  churches ;  and  that 
this  movement  to  control  the  actions  of  freemen, 
by  dictating  to  them  •what  they  should  or  should 
not  do,  would  lead  inevitably  to  the  establish- 
ment of  a  censorship,  which  would  ultimately 
destroy  the  rights  of  conscience,  and  bind  the 
human  mind  in  vassalage  to  the  dictation  of  a 
haughty  priesthood.  Such  were  not  the  senti- 
ments nor  the  practices  of  those  godly  men  who 
laid  the  foundation  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in 
America.  They  regarded  a  scriptural  disci- 
pline, wisely  and  impartially  administered,  not 
only  as  absolutely  necessary,  but  as  fully  sanc- 
tioned by  Divine  authority.  And  as  far  as  their 
example  furnishes  ^precedent,  it  forever  silences 
the  senseless  ranting  of  those  who  seek  to  brand 
such  measures  as  innovations,  and  who,  to  ac- 
complish some  ulterior  design,  would  leave  the 
church  without  a  compass,  to  be  driven  about 
by  the  tempests  of  human  passion. 

Our  illustrious  fathers  had  wisdom  and  grace 
to  perceive  that  the  moral  power  of  the  church 
does  not  consist  in  its  numerical  strength,  but 
in  the  piety  and  purity  of  its  members. 
Hence,  they  planted  themselves  upon  the  pre- 
cepts of  Christ  and  the  apostles ;  and  by  enforc- 
ing proper  regulations  in  all  their  congregations. 


AND   THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  167 


they  sought  to  give  character  to  the  church,  and 
to  make  the  membership  living  witnesses  to  the 
elevatino^  and  controlin^]^  influences  of  sound 
Christian  principles.  They  had,  too,  the  moral 
courage  to  do  their  duty  faithfully  in  this  par- 
ticular. They  had  no  fears  in  relation  to  their 
popularity^  and  never  compromised  their  views 
of  duty,  nor  shrunk  from  any  responsibilities 
growing  out  of  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  ob- 
ligations which  they  owed  to  Christ  and  the 
souls  of  their  fellow-men.  Would  to  God,  their 
"mantle"  had  in  all  cases  descended  to  their 
successors  !  But  the  reader  may  desire  to  see 
the  discipline  which  was  adopted  and  enforced 
in  the  early  days  of  Lutheranism  in  America. 
Here  is  a  portion  of  it.  It  will  be  seen  that  in 
some  things  it  goes  very  minutely  into  detail, 
but  it  is  not  the  less  interesting  on  that  account. 

THE  ELECTION  OF  DEACONS,  &c. 

"  The  election  of  deacons  shall  take  place  annually  on 
Easter-Monday,  as  usual,  in  the  most  capacious  church, 
where  the  whole  congregation,  consisting  of  all  the  regu- 
lar and  contributing  male  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Congregation  in  and  about  Ebenezer,  which 
holds  to  the  Augsburg  Confession  and  Liturgy,  and  also 
to  the  old  Discipline  and  Rule  as  described  in  Chapter  I., 
is  assembled.  On  the  ensuing  Sabbath,  the  church-dea 
cons,  elected  by  a  plurality  of  the  votes  of  the  congrega- 
tion, shall  be  presented  publicly,  at  the  service  in  the 
church  in  which  they  were  elected,  by  one  or  other  of  the 
ministers,  Avhen  they  shall  be  reminded  of  the  duties  of 
their  office,  be  received  by  taking  of  the  hand,  and  their 


168  THE    SALZBUROERS 


names  recorded  in  the  church-register.  Previously,  hovr- 
ever,  the  deacons  whose  office  has  expired  shall  be  dis- 
missed with  thanks  and  wishes  of  blessing. 

"The  meeting  of  the  church-council  shall  be  subject 
to  the  following  rules,  viz.:  When  necessary  matters  and 
business  demand  a  meeting,  the  church-council  shall  be 
previously  and  publicly  invited  from  the  pulpit,  and  the 
time  and  place  of  meeting  specified  by  the  oldest  minis- 
ter, so  that  each  member  can  make  his  appearance,  and 
not  absent  himself  without  cogent  reasons.  If,  however, 
the  business  will  not  admit  of  so  long  delay,  the  mem- 
bers shall  be  convoked  by  expresses.  The  oldest  minister, 
who  has  for  the  longest  period  of  time  been  in  office  in 
this  congregation,  and  to  whom  its  circumstances  are 
best  known,  shall  preside  at  every  meeting  of  the  council. 
Should  he,  however,  be  sick,  or  absent  on  necessary  offi- 
cial engagements,  he  shall  authorize  his  colleague  to 
supply  his  place  in  the  council.  The  elder  minister,  as 
president  of  the  assembled  council,  shall  have  liberty  to 
invite  his  junior  colleague  to  all  important  meetings  of 
the  church-council,  and  permit  him  to  keep  on  record  the 
minutes  or  protocol,  so  that  he  may  gain  experience  for 
the  future. 

*'  When  the  whole,  or  at  least  two-thirds,  of  the  respect- 
ive members  of  the  church-council  are  present,  the  pre- 
sident shall  open  with  a  short  ejaculatory  prayer,  and 
each  member  shall  modestly  take  his  seat ;  and  the  order 
of  business  shall  follow  thus:  1.  The  president  shall 
make  known  the  business  concerning  which  it  is  neces- 
sary to  consult  and  deliberate.  2.  The  president  shall 
present  one  point  after  another,  and  allow  each  member 
to  give  his  opinion  and  exposition  of  it.  Whoever  wishes 
to  speak  and  offer  his  advice,  shall  rise  and  modestly  give 
his  opinion.  No  one  shall  interrupt  another  while  speak- 
ing, and  still  less  shall  two  persons  speak  at  the  same 
time.  All  undue,  insulting,  sarcastic,  and  abusive  lan- 
guage and  expressions  must,  in  general,  and  especially 
in  such  assemblies,  where  matters  affecting  the  honour 
of  God,  and  the  welfare  of  the  congregation  are  con- 


AND    THEIR    DEPCEKDANTS.  TOO 


sidered,  be  avoided.  3.  It  is  also  very  unbecoming  in 
such  meetings  of  council,  for  one  individual  to  be  sole 
spokesman,  and  arbitniril}'  wish  to  have  every  thing  done 
according  to  the  views  which  he  conceives  to  be  correct. 
4.  After  each  one  has  given  his  opinion  and  advice  in  re- 
gard to  one  point,  the  vote  shall  be  taken  upon  it;  the  re- 
solution made  either  unanimously  or  by  plurality  of  vote, 
and  be  written  down  by  the  minister  who  records  the 
minutes,  and  then  read  to  the  assembly,  to  ascertain 
whether  it  has  been  correctly  recorded.  5.  A  resolution, 
however,  in  regard  to  weighty  and  important  matters, 
cannot  and  shall  not  be  considered  valid,  which  is  not 
unanimously  passed,  or,  at  least,  by  concurrence  of  the 
president  and  two-thirds  of  the  regular  members  of  the 
congregation.  Matters  of  this  kind  are  such,  for  exam- 
ple, as  the  building  of  churches  and  school-houses,  the 
election  or  discharge  of  school  teachers,  the  leasing  or 
vending  of  mills  or  any  other  establishment.  Should 
the  church-council  have  come  to  a  determination,  and 
passed  a  resolution  in  reference  to  one  or  other  such  im- 
portant matters,  such  resolution  shall  first  be  laid  pub- 
licly before  the  congregation,  and  a  week's  time  shall 
be  given  the  congregation  to  reflect  on  it.  Should  it 
turn  out,  during  this  week,  that  either  all  or  two-thirds  of 
the  regular  members  of  the  congregation  are  opposed  and 
dissatisfied,  for  weighty  grounds,  the  matter  shall  not  be 
put  in  force,  but  shall  again  receive  the  deliberation  and 
consideration  of  church-council.  G.  After  the  session  of 
the  church-council  is  concluded,  the  president  shall  close 
with  prayer,  and  see  that  the  most  necessary  things  in  the 
minutes  whieli  were  resolved  for  the  welfare  of  the  congre- 
gation, be  properly  transferred  to  the  church-register. 

"Should  one  or  other  member  of  the  ruling  church- 
council,  viz.  the  ministers,  deacons,  trustees,  deputy 
overseers  or  managers,  deviate  from  our  Evangelical  Pro- 
testant religion,  order,  and  worship,  which  are  accordant 
with  the  Augsburg  Confession,  and  go  over  to  another  re- 
ligious denomination,  or  perhaps  even  give  offence  to  our 
congregation  by  gross  wickedness,  (which,  however,  may 
If) 


170  THE    SALZEURGEK8 


God  in  his  mercy  forbid !)  and  if  such  be  plainly  or  suf- 
ficiently, convincino-ly,  and  indisputably  proved  by  two 
or  three  reliable  witnesses ;  and  if  the  various  degrees 
of  admonition  will  not  make  an  impression,  or  produce 
any  reformation,  he  or  they  shall  be  expelled  from  the 
church-council,  and  shall  have  no  part  in  any  thing  be- 
longing to  our  congregation  in  and  about  Ebenezer,  until 
a  true  return  take  place,  and  a  reconciliation  be  effected 
■with  the  congregation. 

"  As  the  laudable  society  in  London  for  the  Promotion 
of  the  Knowledge  of  Christ,  out  of  affection  toward  the 
oppressed  Protestants  from  Salzburg  and  Germany,  has 
kindly  undertaken,  since  the  year  1733,  to  provide  and 
compensate  ministers  and  school-teachers  who  adhere  to 
the  Augsburg  Confession,  for  the  congregation  which  at 
this  time  was  yet  to  be  planted ;  and  has  also  by  certain 
agreements  with  a  number  of  prominent  ministers  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  mother  church,  in  Germany  and 
England,  viz.  with  Mr.  Samuel  Urlsperger,  in  Augsburg, 
Gothelf  Augustus  Francke,  D.D.,  in  Ilalle,  and  Mr.  Frede- 
rick Michel  Ziegenhagen,  yet  living,  as  very  worthy 
members  of  the  above-mentioned  society,  and  their  suc- 
cessors confirmed  and  established  this  privilege,  and  has 
actually  until  this  time,  for  the  space  of  forty-one  years, 
afforded  the  same  thing ;  therefore,  the  right  to  call  a 
minister  to  Ebenezer  congregation  rests,  upon  the  agree- 
ment of  the  laudable  society,  with  the  above-mentioned 
reverend  fathers  and  those  whom  they  are  to  choose  as 
their  successors  in  Europe,  and  shall  continue  so  long  as 
the  aforesaid  are  not  annulled,  or  until  the  Ebenezer  con- 
gregation has  become  unworthy  of  such  a  favour. 

"  Should  one  or  other  Ebenezer  preacher  or  teacher, 
secretly  or  openly,  introduce  and  disseminate  erroneous 
and  soul-destructive  doctrines,  conflicting  with  the  basis 
of  the  apostles  and  prophets  in  the  Avord  of  God,  con- 
tained in  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  and  opposed  to 
our  Augsburg  Confession,  (and  other  Symbolical  Books); 
or  give  offences  which  may  be  really  substantiated,  and 
which  have   become  public ;   or   transgress   by  causing 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  171 


schisms  and  factions, — he  shall  first  be  examined  by  the 
other  minister  and  pastor,  together  with  two  or  three  of 
the  church-council  who  are  experienced  in  the  word  and 
ways  of  God ;  and  if  found  guilty,  required  to  confess, 
deplore,  and  abhor  such  offences,  and  particularly  to  re- 
call and  expose  the  erroneous  doctrines  by  manifesting 
sincere  repentance.  Should,  however,  said  minister,  after 
due  representations  have  been  made,  not  be  disposed  to 
fulfil  the  above  conditions ;  and  stubbornly  and  wickedly 
continue  in  such  error,  then  the  other  minister  and  the 
whole  church-council,  with  the  assistance  of  intelligent 
and  experienced  church-members,  shall  once  more  inves- 
tigate said  offences  and  errors,  direct  the  church-council 
to  report  tlie  same  to  the  reverend  fathers,  and  await 
from  them  a  full  decision.  In  the  mean  time  they  shall 
suspend  such  minister  from  his  office  and  service  until 
the  offences  be  removed ;  because  in  such  cases  delay  is 
dangerous. 

*'  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  pastor  of  our  congrega- 
tion to  teach  and  administer  in  our  congregation,  purely 
and  without  adulteration,  publicly  and  explicitly,  the 
doctrine  of  laith  and  the  practical  duties  following  there- 
from ;  of  our  Evangelical  Lutheran  religion,  and  the  two 
sacraments,  according  to  the  basis  of  the  apostles  and 
prophets  contained  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments,  in  which  Jesus  Christ  is  the  corner- 
stone, (accordant  with  our  Augsburg  Confession  and  other 
Symbolical  Books.) 

"  The  qualifications  and  gifts  requisite  and  necessary 
for  our  ministers  and  pastors,  for  the  performance  of  the 
duties  of  their  office,  are  amply  described  in  the  word  of 
God,  in  the  New  Testament,  the  infallible  rule,  guide, 
and  fountain  of  their  faith,  life,  and  conduct,  according 
to  their  station,  office  and  service.  Matt,  xxviii.  18-20 ; 
Mark  xvi.  15,  IG  ;  Eph.  iv.  11,  12 ;  1  Tim.  iii.  2-13  ; 
Titus  i.  5-11;  1  Pet.  v.  2-4;  James  iii.  1;  1  Tim.  iv. 
10-13 ;  2  Cor.  v.  17-20 ;  vi.  1-10 ;  Acts  xx.  28 ;  2  Tim. 
iv.  2-5  ;  1  Cor.  xii.  4,  5,  7;  Rom.  xii.  7,  8;  John  xiii. 
34,  35  :  Matt.  vii.  22,  23  ;  1  Cor.  xiii.  1-10. 


172  THE    SALZBURG ERS 


"  They  can  also  learn  their  duty  from  the  documents 
containing  their  call  and  instructions,  received  from  their 
reverend  superiors. 

"  According  to  the  ordinance  introduced  at  the  begin- 
ning, our  Ebenezer  congregation  has  had  two  churches, 
viz.  the  Jerusalem  and  Zion's  churches,  and  has  also  one 
church  in  Bethany ;  and  so  long  as  there  was,  are,  and 
•will  be  two  ministers,  the  whole  congregation  is  and 
shall  be  jointly  and  associately  supplied  with  the  means 
of  grace  after  the  following  manner:  1.  The  older  minis- 
ter shall  conduct  the  worship  at  Zion's  church  every 
second  Sabbath,  until  otherwise  directed  by  the  reverend 
directors ;  he  shall  also,  if  health  and  strength  permit, 
deliver  one  catechetical  sermon  every  week  in  the  same 
place.  Farther,  he  shall  also,  in  accordance  with  the 
precedence  and  Christian  example  of  the  first  ministers 
and  his  first  appointments,  have  divine  service,  on  diJOfer- 
ent  Sabbaths  and  week-days,  in  the  German  Evangelical 
Lutheran  congregation  at  Goshen  and  in  the  town  of 
Savannah.  The  other  Sabbaths  and  fast-days  he  shall 
appropriate  to  holding  service  in  the  Jerusalem  church. 
The  second  preacher,  who  at  the  present  time  lives  in  the 
little  town  of  Ebenezer,  near  Jerusalem  church,  shall 
conduct  worship  in  the  Jerusalem  church,  until  other- 
wise ordered  by  the  reverend  directors,  on  Sabbath  and 
fast-days,  so  that  the  Ebenezer  congregation  shall  lose 
nothing  on  those  Sabbaths  and  fast-days  on  which  the 
older  minister  has  divine  service  at  Goshen  and  Savan- 
nah. Furthermore,  the  second  preacher  shall  also  de- 
liver a  catechetical  sermon  weekly  in  the  Jerusalem 
church;  and  as  the  members  residing  in  Bethany  are 
nearest  to  Jerusalem  church,  and  belong  to  it,  and  as 
they  have,  with  the  approval  of  the  first  blessed  ministers, 
built  a  church  in  Bethany,  considering  that  the  old,  in- 
firm, and  sickly  members  and  children  can  scarcely 
attend  the  Jerusalem  church,  and  yet  have  need  of 
spiritual  nourishment,  it  was,  therefore,  resolved  by  the 
church-council,  'that  the  people  in  Bethany  shall  regu- 
larly have  divine  service,  if  possible,  every  fourth  Sab- 


AND    Til  KIR    DESCENDANTS.  1' 


bath  by  the  preacher  who  lives  nearest  to  them.  Aid. 
minutes  of  January  12,  1774.'  Yet  this  resolution  shall 
not  be  enforced,  except  with  the  condition,  that  the 
minister  receives  the  necessary  travelling  expenses,  and 
entertainment  for  himself  and  horse  ;  because,  according 
to  the  teachings  of  Christ,  the  labourer  is  vForthy  of  his 
meat  and  wages. 

"  According  to  the  good  regulation  already  introduced, 
the  Lord's  Supper  shall  bo  administered,  if  possible,  every 
six  weeks  in  our  Ebenezer  congregation  after  this  man- 
ner, viz.:  1.  It  shall  be  published  two  weeks  previously, 
after  the  morning  service,  in  both  churches  or  in  one, 
when  the  whole  congregation  is  assembled  in  it ;  and  the 
names  of  such  as  signify  their  intention  to  commune 
shall  be  recorded  by  the  respective  minister  or  ministers. 
Should  any  of  the  members  not  be  present  Avhen  the  an- 
nouncement is  made,  and  yet  be  desirous  of  participating, 
they  shall  be  allowed  to  make  known  their  intention  at 
the  service  of  the  preceding  week,  or  privately  to  one  or 
other  of  the  pastors.  Both  ministers  shall  mutually  com- 
municate to  each  otiier  the  names  each  one  may  have  re- 
corded, and  confer  betimes  over  them  in  a  paternal  and 
brotherly  way,  to  ascertain  whether  there  might  be  one 
or  more  among  the  number  against  whom  complaint  may 
exist,  known  either  to  the  pastor  himself  by  personal  ob- 
servation, or  which  information  has  been  given  by  credit- 
able testimonies.  In  such  cases  they  must  use  particular 
wisdom  and  foresight,  according  to  the  rule  of  their 
Saviour  and  Master,  in  jMatt.  x.  IG,  so  that  they  may 
deal  impartially,  without  carnal  affections  and  passions  ; 
that  they  may  not  judge  according  to  hearsay  ;  but  con- 
front accusers,  accused,  and  witnesses,  and,  as  the  issue 
may  be,  either  acquit  the  innocent  or  proceed  with  the 
guilty,  according  to  the  degrees  of  exhortation.  Should, 
liowever,  in  this  affair,  important  matters  be  affected, 
then  the  pastors  shall  have  liberty  to  admit  to  their  aid 
several  intelligent  and  God-fearing  members  of  the  church- 
council.  Neither  of  the  two  pastors  shall,  however,  be 
permitted  to  exclude,  upon  his  own  respou&ibility,  any 


174  THE   SAL2BURGERS 


one  from  participating  in  the  Lord's  Supper;  but  it  shall 
be  done  with  the  knoAvledge  of  both,  provided  there  be 
reasons  and  grounds  sufficient  Tvhich  demand  such  pro- 
cedure. And  if  it  happen  that  any  one  has  given  of- 
fence to  the  congregation  by  gross  and  open  sins  and 
vices,  and  such  persons  or  person  has  or  have  been 
brought  to  sincere  repentance  and  sorrow  on  account  of 
his  or  their  sins,  by  the  admonition  and  instruction  of 
the  pastors,  through  the  word  and  Spirit  of  God ;  and  if 
they  evince  an  earnest  desire,  next  to  God,  to  be  again 
reconciled  with  the  congregation,  then  the  church  disci- 
pline shall  be  enforced  as  has  been  usual  at  other  occa- 
aions,  on  the  Sabbath  on  which  the  Lord's  Supper  is  ad- 
ministered, as  follows:  The  penitent  or  penitents  shall 
be  called  out  by  name  before  the  public  assembly  of  the 
congregation,  and  commended  to  their  compassionate  in- 
tercession, and  be  again  restored  with  appropriate  admo- 
nition. In  regard,  however,  to  errors  and  faults  com- 
mitted through  thoughtlessness,  which  occurred  secretly 
and  not  publicly,  and  through  which  the  congregation  re- 
ceived no  offence,  the  person  guilty  shall  on  no  account 
be  reprehended  publicly  from  the  pulpit,  personally  or 
by  name,  but  shall  be  set  aside  privately  by  the  pastor, 
and  be  directed  to  reform.  Because,  should  any  other 
method  be  pursued,  imbittered  feelings  might  be  aroused, 
offence  given,  and  injury  done.  The  minister  shall  never- 
theless retain  perfect  right  and  liberty  to  denounce  each 
and  every  sin  and  deviation  from  the  holy  law  of  God,  as 
is  directed  by  the  teachings  of  Jesus  Christ  and  his  holy 
apostles.  The  confession  shall  be  held  in  both  churches 
on  Saturday  morning,  by  both  ministers.  In  case,  how 
ever,  one  of  the  ministers  should  be  sick,  and  the  other 
thus  be  alone,  it  shall  be  held  in  the  largest  church, 
where  all  who  have  given  in  their  names  can  be  con- 
vened. The  Lord's  Supper  shall,  as  usual,  be  adminis- 
tered in  the  most  capacious  church  and  by  both  ministers, 
viz.:  the  elements  shall  be  consecrated  and  the  bread  dis- 
tributed by  the  elder  minister,  and  the  consecrated  cup 
shall  be  given  by  the  junior  minister.    The  collection,  as 


AND  TIIEIR   DESCENDANTS.  175 


directed,  shall  be  taken  up  while  the  congregation  is  dis 
persing. 

"The  follo-vving  rules  shall  be  adopted  in  regard  to  tht 
instruction  and  confirmation  of  young  persons :  1.  Pa- 
rents, guardians,  and  masters  shall  be  allowed  to  make 
mention  of  the  young  persons  intrusted  to  their  care, 
and  send  them  to  either  of  the  two  pastors  nearest  to 
whom  they  may  live,  or  whom  they  may  prefer ;  2.  Both 
parties  shall  employ  the  utmost  fidelity,  according  to  the 
grace  which  has  been  bestowed  upon  and  received  by 
them,  to  ground,  through  the  love  of  Christ,  the  young 
souls  intrusted  to  them,  thoroughly,  by  the  assistance 
and  power  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  our  evangelical  doc- 
trines of  faith  and  duties  of  life,  or  in  the  order  of  salva- 
tion, or  in  the  counsel  of  God  conducing  to  blessedness, 
upon  Jesus  Christ,  the  rock  of  our  salvation ;  3.  After 
this  has  been  performed,  and  the  time  has  arrived  when 
they  shall  be  publicly  examined  and  tested,  when  they 
shall  renew  their  baptismal  vow  and  be  confirmed,  then 
each  pastor  may  publish  the  time  and  day,  and  examine 
the  little  flock  wiiich  he  has  instructed  in  one  or  other 
of  the  two  churches,  receive  the  vows  of  the  fiiithful,  and 
kindly  invite  his  colleague  and  co-pastor  to  attend ;  be- 
cause, by  such  a  solemn  act,  faithful  ministers  and  shep- 
herds may  be  animated,  encouraged,  and  excited  to  in- 
tercessions, if  they  have  at  all  the  spirit  and  disposition 
of  Christ,  the  Lord  of  his  own ;  4.  The  persons  newly 
confirmed  by  each  minister  shall  be  registered  in  a 
suitable  church  record,  and  preserved  as  a  testimony  to 
posterity. 

"  The  order  established  by  the  first  minister,  with  the 
approbation  of  the  reverend  directors,  in  regard  to  the 
public  worship  on  Sabbath  and  fast-days  in  our  Ebenezer 
congregation,  shall  remain  undisturbed,  and  shall  be  ob- 
served in  our  church  as  follows:  1.  At  the  usual  time  in 
the  morning,  the  minister  shall  commence  with  the  prayer 
from  the  London  Liturgy  ;  2.  The  school-teacher  shall 
read  a  chapter  from  the  Holy  Bible,  following  the  prayer 
in  order ;    3.   The   minister  shall  announce  a  spiritual 


176  TIIK   SALZBUllGEKS 


hymn  from  the  Holy  Hymn  Book,  according  to  its  num- 
ber, and  also  whether  the  whole,  or  (if  only  a  part)  how 
many  verses  shall  be  sung;  4.  The  minister  shall  read 
the  Epistle  or  Gospel  appointed  for  the  day ;  5.  The  hymn 
shall  be  again  sung,  it  being  previously  announced  as  be- 
fore ;  6.  The  minister  shall  offer  up  an  extemporaneous 
prayer,  and  end  with  the  Lord's  prayer;  7.  lie  shall  read 
the  Epistle  or  Gospel,  or  text  which  forms  the  basis  of  his 
remarks ;  8.  He  shall  preach  his  sermon,  and  close  it  with 
prayer ;  9.  The  general  prayer  from  the  London  Liturgy 
shall  follow,  and  be  finished  with  the  Lord's  prayer ;  10. 
All  the  necessary  announcements  shall  be  made,  and  con- 
cluded by  an  apostolic  wish;  11.  There  shall  be  singing; 
12.  The  congregation  shall  be  dismissed  with  the  Lord's 
benediction.  The  afternoon  service  shall  be  commenced, 
1.  By  reading  a  chapter  from  the  Holy  Scriptures  :  2. 
Singing ;  3.  The  young  persons  and  children  shall  re- 
hearse what  they  have  learned — passages  from  the  little 
book  of  the  blessed  Tolner,  the  catechism  of  Luther,  the 
order  of  salvation,  or  hymns;  4.  Singing;  5.  The  minis- 
ter shall  offer  up  a  prayer,  and  catechise  the  children, 
either  on  what  they  have  rehearsed,  or  on  the  Epistle  or 
Gospel  read  that  day ;  G.  He  shall  close  with  praj'^er,  and 
"Our  Father,"  &c,;  7.  Singing,  and  dismission  of  the 
congregation  with  the  blessing  of  the  Lord. 

"  Those  who  at  any  time  shall  be  the  ministers  of  our 
Ebenezer  congregation,  shall,  according  as  God  has  given 
them  grace,  gifts,  and  experience,  for  which  they  shall 
daily  implore  the  Lord  and  Master,  be  strenuously  en- 
gaged for  the  general  and  particular  salvation  and  educa- 
tion of  the  lambs  and  sheep  intrusted  to  them,  and  pur- 
chased by  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  himself.  They  shall 
visit  industriously  the  schools,  as  also  the  sick  mem- 
bers, when  and  as  often  as  they  desire  it,  and  supply 
them  with  the  means  of  grace,  so  far  as  time,  health,  and 
strength  will  admit.  In  case  one  or  other  of  the  minis- 
ters is  afilicted  with  sickness  and  confined,  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  other,  who  is  well,  as  much  as  In-  the  aid  of 
God  he  may  be  able,  amid  the  other  necessary  cngMge- 


AND    TIIEIi;    DESCENDANTS.  177 


ments  of  his  oflBco,  to  conduct  the  worship  on  the  Lord's 
day  in  one  or  other,  or  both  churches  alternately,  and 
serve  and  visit  the  filial  or  young  congregation  sprung 
from  the  parent  congregation,  on  one  or  other  day 
of  the  week,  until  the  sick  minister  be  restored.  Fur- 
ther, the  ministers  and  pastors  shall  also,  according  to 
the  example  of  the  first  minister  of  the  congregation, 
so  pleasing  to  God  himself,  confer  diligently,  either  orally 
or  by  writing,  concerning  official  or  casuistic  cases 
which  may  be  brought  before  them  ;  the  one  serving  the 
other  with  the  gifts  which  he  has  received,  and  thereby 
manifest  to  the  tlock  that,  from  thorough  self-knowledge 
and  just  application  of  unction  from  on  high,  each  re- 
gards the  other  as  superior  to  himself;  that  they  serve 
one  Lord  of  all,  and  one  congregation,  and  take  heed 
unto  themselves  and  the  doctrine ;  that  they  preserve  in 
a  pure  conscience  the  precious  charge  intrusted  to  them; 
and  fight  the  good  fight,  so  as  to  save  both  themselves 
and  their  hearers.  1  Tim.  iv.  IG.  In  this  way,  and  not 
otherwise,  can  the  will  of  God  be  accomplished,  the  wish 
of  our  fathers  be  fulfilled  according  to  Psalm  cxxxiii., 
their  own  hearts  be  rejoiced,  the  burden  of  their  duties 
toward  the  congregation  alleviated,  and  their  conversation 
and  exemplary  walk  become  a  wholesome  terror  to  the 
obstinate,  and  serve  as  a  blessing  and  comfort  and  means 
of  growth  in  grace  to  the  obedient  sheep  and  lambs. 

OF  CHURCH  MEMBERS. 

"  "Whoever  wishes  to  become  and  remain  a  member  of 
our  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  holding  to  the  Augs- 
burg Confession  and  Liturgy,  in  and  about  Ebenezer, 
and  have  part  in  the  spiritual  and  temporal  benefits,  pri- 
vileges, and  rights,  must,  in  the  first  place,  have  been  or 
be  received  within  the  covenant  of  grace  by  holy  bap- 
tism, with  the  Divine  Majesty  of  God  the  Father,  Son, 
and  Holy  Spirit;  2.  lie  must  be  or  have  been  instructed 
for  the  participation  in  the  Lord's  Supper ;  he  must  ]>e 
confirmed  and  received  as  a  communing  member  ;  3.  lie 


178  THE   SALZBUllGERS 


must,  as  much  as  possible,  regularly  attend  to  the  hear- 
ing of  the  word  of  God,  and  participate  in  the  Lord's 
Supper ;  4.  lie  must  voluntarily  contribute,  according  to 
his  ability,  of  his  gifts  and  merits  toward  the  continua- 
tion and  support  of  the  evangelical  worship  of  God,  when- 
ever and  wherever  the  deacons  may  demand  it ;  5.  He 
must  not  live  in,  or  be  found  guilty  of,  prevailing  sins 
and  vices,  contrary  to  the  divine  moral  code  or  the  ten 
commandments  of  God,  nor  indulge  in  the  open  works 
of  the  flesh  enumerated  in  Gal.  v.  19-21;  1  Cor.  v.  1-12; 
vi.  9,  10 ;  but  he  must  conduct  himself  as  a  Christian, 
according  to  his  calling  and  the  doctrine  of  Jesus  Christ ; 
6.  In  case,  however,  one  or  other  member  should  be  over- 
taken in  faults,  through  the  subtle  artifice  of  Satan,  of 
the  flesh,  and  of  the  deceitfulness  of  the  world,  or,  per- 
haps, even  fall  into  great  sins,  and  such  failings  or  sins 
come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  ministers  and  pastors,  then 
they  shall  first  call  these  fallen  souls  to  account,  alone,  with 
compassionate  love  and  seriousness  regarding  them  as 
wandering,  lost,  and  wounded  sheep,  and  admonish  them 
to  repent,  point  the  sin  and  uncleanness  again  to  the 
free  and  open  fountain,  and  give  them  advice  and  direc- 
tion how  they,  as  lost  sons  and  daughters,  may  again 
reach  their  home.  Should  this  course  prove  fruitless, 
the  pastors  shall  make  still  further  attempts  to  retrieve 
them;  and  admit  to  their  assistance  two  or  three  mem- 
bers of  the  church-council,  who  are  experienced  in  the 
word  and  ways  of  God,  and  repeat  the  aifectionate  admo- 
nitions. And  if  this  also  prove  abortive,  then  such  per- 
sons, continuing  in  their  sins,  shall  be  cited  to  appear  be- 
fore the  church-council  and  pastors,  and  the  last  admoni- 
tion shall  be  applied.  If,  however,  they  refuse  to  appear 
and  obey,  their  name  shall  then  be  recorded  in  the 
minutes  of  the  congregation,  and  then  have  neither  part, 
nor  right,  nor  suffrage  in  the  congregation,  and  its  privi- 
leges and  benefits,  until,  peradventure,  by  God's  grace, 
long-suffering  and  mercy,  for  the  intercession  of  Jesus 
Christ  the  Mediator,  through  the  disciplining  and  gra- 
cious workings  of  the  Spirit  of  God,   true   conversion 


AND    Til  KIR    DEPCI-NDAKTS.  179 


takes  place,  and  they  give  evidence  of  such  by  proofs, 
and  witiial,  desire  to  be  again  received  into  the  congre- 
gation ;  then  they  may  be  received,  provided  they  ac- 
knowledge and  confess,  in  open  assembly  of  the  congre- 
gation, the  oftences  alleged,  and  ask  forgiveness  and  re- 
conciliation through  the  pastors. 

'*  To  all  the  above  Fundamental  Articles,  Constitutions, 
and  Rules,  upon  which  and  according  to  which  a  German 
Evangelical  Lutheran  congregation,  composed  of  Salzburg 
emigrants  and  Protestants  accompanying  them,  was 
founded,  established,  governed,  and-  maintained  (and 
shall  in  the  future,  through  all  time,  be  maintained  and 
governed)  in  and  about  Kbenezer,  in  the  Province  of 
Georgia,  (by  virtue  of  the  freedom  of  conscience  granted 
by  God  and  the  constitution  of  Great  Britain,)  professing 
and  adhering  to  the  word  of  God  and  the  Augsburg  Con- 
fession, the  ministers,  pastors,  and  school-teachers  who 
may  at  any  time  be  in  office,  all  the  trustees,  elders,  dea- 
cons, each  regular  contributing,  communing  church  mem- 
ber, mutually  and  deliberately  bind  themselves,  with 
heart  and  hand  and  signature  of  their  names  ;  and  that, 
too,  with  the  express  condition,  that  he  or  they  who  acts 
contrary  to  the  above  constitution,  seeking  in  any  way 
to  annul  or  pervert  it,  shall  have  neither  part  or  right, 
nor  vote,  nor  pretension  to  the  spiritual  and  temporal 
goods  and  benefits  of  the  Ebenczcr  congregation. 

E^jcnezer,  (ieonji'a,  December  14,  1774." 

"  That  the  above  is  a  true  transcript  of  the  original 
Fundamental  Articles,  Constitution,  and  Kules,  which  were 
unanimously  ratified  by  the  church-council  in  public 
assembly  at  Ebenezer,  with  the  signatures  of  their  names, 
and  also  on  the  2Gth  of  January,  1775,  by  the  congrega- 
tion in  Jerusalem  church  at  Ebenezer,  plainly  and  dis- 
tinctly heard  and  approved  and  confirmed  Ijy  the  signa- 
ture of  their  names,  is  hereby  testified  and  affirmed  by 
Henry  Melchior  Muhlenburg,  at  the  time  Keverend  of 
Evangelical  Ministerium,  Philadelphia,  Minister  Senior, 
and  authorized  agent  of  the  Reverend  Directors  of  tho 
Ebenezer  congregation,  &c.  &c.'^ 


180 


THE    SALZBURGERS 


The  undersigned,  respective  members  of  the 
church-council,  are  the  Reverend  Ministers,  the 
Trustees  and  Deacons,  and  appear  in  the  origi- 
nal, subscribed  as  follows  : — 


Christian  Rabenhorst, 
Christopher  Frederick  Triebner, 

TRUSTEES. 

John  Casper  "Wertsch, 
John  Floerl, 
Joseph  Schubtrein, 
David  Steiner, 
Conrad  Rahn, 
Christopher  Kraemer. 


John  Michael, 
John  Paulus, 
John  Remshart, 
Matt.  Bedenbach, 
Balthasar  Rieser, 
Caspar  Heil, 
John  Hangleiter, 
Charles  McCay, 
Lucas  Zeigler, 
George  Gruber, 
Christopher  Oechsle, 
Hans  JUrk  Winckler, 
John  Martin  Dasher, 
George  Schwinger, 
Israel  Leimberger, 
John  George  Bentz, 
Nicholas  Michael, 
Jacob  Housler, 
Solomon  Schrempf, 
Christian  Dasher, 
Ernest  Zittrauer, 
Johannes  Maurer, 


DEACONS. 

John  Adam  Treutlen, 
Ulrich  Neidlingor, 
Jacob  C.  Waldhauer, 
John  Kugel, 
Christian  Steiner, 
Samuel  Krauss. 


Veit  Lochner, 

John  Martin  Paulitsch, 

John  Paul  Moeller, 

Jacob  Metzger, 

Jacob  Mack, 

Philip  Paulitsch, 

Michael  Mack, 

Christopher  Rottenberger, 

Michael  Reiser, 

John  Schuele, 

John  Adam  Freyermuth, 

Jacob  Tarringer, 

Jacob  Meyer, 

John  G.  F.  Zittrauer, 

John  G.  H.  Schneider, 

John  Justus  Gravenstein, 

John  Rentz, 

John  Heinlej', 

John  C.  Oechsle, 

Nicholas  Schubtrein, 

Nicholas  Helme, 

George  Gnann, 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS. 


181 


Jacob  Bucblor, 

John  Bollinger, 

Ruprecbt  Zimmercbner, 

Henry  Ludwig  Bentz, 

John  Steincr, 

Daniel  Burgsteiner, 

John  Christian  Krinberger, 

Daniel  'Weitmann, 

Martin  Dasher, 

Mattheus  Rahn, 

John  Gottleib  Ott, 

Israel  Lackner, 

Matbias  Meyer, 

John  Koglei', 

G.  Israel  Schmidt, 

Nathaniel  Ott, 

Conrad  Frank, 

John  Michael  Oechsle, 

John  Motzger, 

John  Bolleinger, 

Solomon  Zandt, 

John  Adam  Paulus, 

Andreas  Gnann, 

John  Rottenbergcr, 

Michael  Ileisman, 

Frederick  Lackner, 

Samuel  Metzger, 

Andrew  Seckinger, 

Benjamin  Rieser, 

John  Sherraus, 

Frederick  Schrempf, 

Jacob  Mohr, 

John  Christian  Buntz, 

John  George  Maurer, 

Israel  Rieser, 

This  list  of  names  shows  that  on  the  16th  of 
January,   1775,   there  were    one   hundred  and 

10 


John  George  Beckley, 

John  Scheraus, 

Jacob  Ileinley, 

Jacob  Gnann, 

Peter  Freyermutb, 

John  Gottleib  Neidlinger, 

John  Christian  Gugel, 

Abraham  De  Roshe, 

Samuel  Deppe, 

Benjamin  B.  Glaner, 

Jonathan  Seckinger, 

John  Glaner, 

John  Gottleib  Schneider, 

Michael  Halerer, 

Frederick  Helfenstein, 

Jacob  Metzger, 

Mathees  M.  Schule, 

Jacob  Kiefer, 

John  Ileckel, 

George  Zeigler, 

Paul  Fanck, 

Sigismund  Ott, 

John  Pfluger, 

Andreas  Seckinger, 

Timotheus  Lembke, 

George  Bechly, 

John  Rentz, 

John  Gottlieb  Fetzer, 

Joseph  Schubtrein,  Jr., 

Jacob  Schmidt, 

Emanuel  Kiefer, 

Israel  Kiefer, 

George  Ditters, 

Andreas  Biddenbach. 


182  THE   SALZBURGERS 


twenty-four  male  members  present  at  Jerusalem 
church,  -when  the  discipline  was  solemnly  ratified 
and  subscribed.  There  is  no  doubt  that  many  of 
the  members  w^ere  absent;  but  still  it  furnishes 
sufficient  evidence  of  the  numerical  strength  of 
the  congregation  at  that  time.  The  list  of  names 
is  inserted  entire,  as  a  matter  of  reference  for 
the  benefit  of  the  descendants  of  the  Salzburgers 
who  still  survive,  many  of  whom  will  probably 
be  gratified  to  have  this  opportunity  to  trace  out 
their  genealogy.  Besides,  it  may  be  necessary 
to  use  it  in  noticing  the  dispersion  of  the  Salz- 
burgers into  other  portions  of  Georgia,  and  the 
changes  which  many  of  them  have  made  in  their 
church  relations.  For  it  will  appear  hereafter, 
that  very  many  of  the  descendants  of  these 
men  forsook  the  church  of  their  fathers,  and 
united  with  other  communions.  All  that  some 
of  them  carried  with  them  was  the  name  of 
their  venerable  ancestors :  for  the  Lutheran 
Church  they  seem  to  have  lost  all  afi'ection  and 
reverence.  But  w^e  will  dwell  more  fully  upon 
this  topic  in  its  proper  place. 

There  is  one  other  historical  fact  brought  to 
light  in  Dr.  Muhlenburg's  journal,  which  must 
not  be  omitted,  and  it  will  not  be  inappropriate 
to  record  it  here.  Reference  has  been  made  to 
the  settlement  at  Abercorn,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Lutheran  Chm'ch  at  Goshen.  Dr. 
Muhlenburg  states,  under  date,  January  7,  1775: 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  183 


"  The  so-called  Abcrcorn  was  originally  settled 
by  Germans  of  our  confession  ;  gradually,  how- 
ever, it  fell  into  the  hands  of  two  English  gen- 
tlemen, who  are  now  the  proprietors,  and  culti- 
vate the  land  with  Negro  slaves.  The  adjoining 
land,  called  Goshen  on  account  of  its  fertility, 
was  settled  originally  by  our  brethren  in  the 
faith ;  and  our  beloved  ministers,  Bolzius  and 
Lerabke,  each  patented  five  hundred  acres  of 
land,  which  were  suitable  for  the  cultivation  of 
grain  and  rice.  The  faithful  but  poor  brethren 
could  not  cultivate  nor  continue  to  hold  them, 
and  were  compelled  to  sell  them  to  an  English- 
man in  Savannah,  who  was  likewise  forced  to 
re-sell  them  to  Mr.  Knox,  who  keeps  a  large 
number  of  negroes  and  overseers  upon  them. 
There  are  about  fifteen  families  of  our  German 
brethren  in  the  faith  still  living  at  Goshen,  hav- 
ing a  small  church  and  school-house,  who  were 
served  with  the  means  of  grace  by  the  late 
ministers,  and  up  to  this  time  by  Pastor  Ra- 
benhorst." 

Dr.  Muhlenburg  further  remarks,  that  while 
he  was  at  Ebenezer  two  ^Moravian  ministers  ar- 
rived at  Savannah,  who  had  been  brought  over 
by  Mr.  Knox  as  missionaries,  to  labour  among 
the  slaves  on  his  plantation.  As  a  compensation 
for  their  services,  Mr.  Knox  stipulated  to  give 
them  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  and 
to  allow  them  the  use  of  ten  or  tv/clve  slaves  to 


184  THE   SALZBURGERS 


cultivate  it.  These  Moravian  brethren  applied 
for  the  use  of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Goshen 
to  preach  in.  Dr.  Muhlenburg  seems  to  have 
had  some  fears  in  reference  to  their  influence 
upon  the  Lutheran  families  about  Goshen,  espe- 
cially in  view  of  the  distracted  state  of  the 
Ebenezer  congregations,  growing  out  of  the  dif- 
ficulty between  Messrs.  Rabenhorst  and  Triebner. 
Speaking  of  the  presence  of  these  missionaries 
at  Goshen,  he  says :  "  I  doubt  not,  according  to 
their  known  method  of  insinuation,  they  will 
gain  the  most,  if  not  all,  the  remaining  families 
in  Goshen,  and  will  also  make  an  attempt  on 
Ebenezer,  for  their  ways  are  well  adapted  to 
awakened  souls.  I  have  learned  by  experience 
that  where  strife  and  disunion  have  occurred  in 
neighbourhoods  and  congregations,  among  the 
Germans  in  America,  there  black  and  white 
apostles  have  immediately  appeared,  and  tried  to 
fish  in  the  troubled  waters,  like  eagles  which 
have  a  keen  sight  and  scent.  "Well,  be  it  so.  He 
who  controls  all  things  has  all  power  given  unto 
him  in  heaven  and  on  earth.  He  is  the  keeper 
of  Israel,  and  never  sleeps  nor  slumbers.  What 
he  ordains  or  permits  must  finally  conduce  to 
the  glorification  of  his  great  name,  when  all  his 
enemies  shall  have  been  placed  beneath  his 
feet." 

The  fears  of  Dr.  Muhlenburg,  in  relation  to  the 
inroads  which  the  Moravians  might  make  upon  the 


AND  THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  185 


Goshen  church,  were  happily  not  realized.  For, 
in  another  part  of  his  journal,  this  minute  is  to 
be  found  under  date  of  the  21st  of  January: 
<'  The  Moravian  emissary  held  his  first  meeting 
in  the  plantation  last  Sunday,  and  preached  in 
broken  English.  He  exerted  himself  also  very 
much  to  build  up  his  interests  in  the  Lutheran 
Church  there,  or  else  to  erect  a  church  near  it 
for  himself.  A  person  acquainted  Vy'itli  the  state 
of  things  told  him,  that  the  Ebenezer  congrega- 
tion and  its  associates  had  hitherto  been  served 
by  regularly-called  Evangelical  Lutheran  minis- 
ters and  pastors,  and  as  he  had  been  called  to 
instruct  the  Negro  slaves,  we  wished  him  God- 
speed and  success  in  it;  and  if  they  had  any 
superfluous  time  and  strength,  there  were  yet 
enough  other  inhabitants  and  Indians  in  Georgia, 
who  were  sitting  in  darkness  and  the  shadow  of 
death,  and  needed  much  help  for  instruction  and 
conversion." 

These  missionaries  were  not,  it  would  seem 
from  this,  as  successful  as  they  anticipated,  and 
in  a  few  years  left  the  colony,  and  went  probably 
to  Pennsylvania.  Goshen  remained  a  part  of  the 
Ebenezer  charge  even  after  the  Revolutionary 
War ;  but  we  shall  speak  of  it  more  fully  here- 
after. 

Dr.  Muhlenburg  fully  accomplished  the  ob- 
jects of  his  mission  to  Georgia.  He  succeeded 
in  healing  the  breach  between  Messrs.  Raben- 

16* 


186  THE   SALZBURG ERS 


horst  and  Triebner,  and  restored  harmony  to 
the  church.  Besides  which,  he  investigated 
thoroughly  all  the  financial  affairs  of  the  con- 
gregation, took  an  inventory  of  the  church  pro- 
perty, had  all  the  deeds  and  grants,  kc.  pro- 
perly secured  and  recorded ;  and  transmitted  to 
the  founders  of  the  church  in  Germany  a  mi- 
nute detail  of  all  his  observations  and  proceed- 
ings. During  this  visit,  he  performed  a  vast 
amount  of  labour,  and  displayed  a  degree  of 
prudence  and  Christian  fidelity  which  are 
worthy  of  all  praise.  His  duties  were  fre- 
quently^ of  the  most  delicate  and  embarrassing 
character,  but  he  never  shrunk  from  them  ;  and 
while  he  always  exhibited  a  nice  regard  for  the 
feelings  of  those  whose  conduct  he  was  sent  to 
investigate,  he  never  swerved  from  the  path  of 
duty,  but  performed  his  stew^ardship  faithfully 
and  conscientiously,  and  to  the  entire  satisfac- 
tion of  all  parties.  He  left  Savannah  on  the 
20th  of  February,  1775,  and  arrived  in  Phila- 
delphia on  the  6th  of  March,  after  a  tempestu- 
ous and  rather  unpleasant  passage.  The  Salz- 
burgers  and  their  descendants  should  cherish 
the  memory  of  Dr.  Muhlenburg  with  lively  gra- 
titude. For,  as  has  already  been  seen,  he  was 
not  only  instrumental  in  restoring  harmony  to 
the  congregation  :  he  saved  the  church  property 
from  being  alienated,  and  by  his  presence  and 
labours,  and  the  introduction  of  a  wholesome 


AKD    TllKlR   DESCENDAKTS.  187 


discipline,  he  prepared  the  way  for  the  future 
peace  and  prosperity  of  the  church.  If,  in  after 
years,  his  mse  counsels  and  godly  conversation 
lost  their  influence  among  the  Salzburgers,  and 
they  chose  to  walk  according  to  their  own  vain 
and  foolish  imaginings,  he  at  least  must  he  ex- 
onerated from  all  censure,  for  he  did  every 
thing  which  human  wisdom  could  devise  and  hu- 
man agency  could  accomplish,  to  place  the  congre- 
gation at  Ebenezer  upon  such  a  footing  as  would 
Becure  its  permanent  prosperity  and  success. 
The  wisest  and  most  judicious  efforts  are,  how- 
ever, sometimes  unavailing  to  prevent  the  down- 
fall of  a  church;  especially  is  this  the  case, 
when  God's  people  provoke  his  displeasure  by 
disobedience  to  those  laws  which  he  has  enacted 
for  the  regulation  of  their  conduct.  Wo  to 
any  people,  when  by  their  rebellious  spirit  they 
arouse  the  righteous  displeasure  of  God !  <'  Icha- 
bod !"  will  be  written  upon  their  sanctuaries ;  and 
amid  the  storms  of  passion  which  ensue,  their 
souls  will  be  given  up  to  spiritual  leanness  and 
barrenness. 


188  THE   SALZBURGEKS 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Affairs  at  Ebenezer  after  Dr.  Muhlenburg's  departure — Raben- 
horst  and  Triebner— Pastors  cease  to  be,  Tnistees,  and  the  trust 
transferred  to  the  church  officers — Mr.  Rabenhorst  created /r«« 
pastor — State  of  feeling  between  the  two  pastorsr-Inventory 
of  church  property — Its  estimated  value — Church-  funds — Yievrs 
of  the  propriety  of  creating  them — A  case  of  necessity  with  the 
Salzburgers — General  state  of  the  colony^Prosperity  of  Eben- 
ezer— A  fancy  sketch — Commercial  relations  of  Ebenezer — 
Gradual  extension  of  the  settlements — Xew  settlers  come  in — 
Commencement  of  the  Revolution — Stamp  Act  and  tax  on  tea 
— State  of  the  public  mind  in  the  Province  of  Georgia — Posi- 
tion of  the  Salzburgers — Provincial  Congress  in  Savannah — 
Salzburgers  in  that  Congress — Majority  of  them  side  with  the 
Colonists — Protest  of  a  portion  of  the  Salzburgers — Adherents 
to  the  Crown  in  St.  Matthew's  Parish— Patriotic  and  noble  sen- 
timents of  the  Salzburgers — Mr.  Triebner  sides  with  the  Crown 
— Judicious  course  of  Mr.  Rabenhorst — His  long  and  successful 
labours,  and  death. 

The  departure  of  Dr.  Muhlenburg  from 
Georgia  was  universally  regretted  by  all  the 
Salzburgers,  and  particularly  by  Mr.  Raben- 
horst and  his  family.  To  this  family  he  became 
very  strongly  attached,  and  he  makes  frequent 
mention  of  them  in  his  journal,  and  especially 
of  Mrs.  Rabenhorst,  whom  he  calls  his  "  foster- 
mother,"  adding,  "The  king's  daughter  is  all 
glorious  within."      <'Like  a  precious  gem,  is  so 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  189 


humble  a  soul."  Mr.  Rabenhorst  was  very 
deeply  affected  in  separating  from  Dr.  Mulilen- 
burg.  In  him  he  had  found  a  prudent  friend, 
a  judicious  adviser,  and  a  -warm-hearted  and 
affectionate  brother.  Besides,  Dr.  Muhlenburg 
seems  to  have  formed  a  just  estimate  of  the 
talents  and  sincere  piety  of  Mr.  Rabenhorst; 
and  as  there  was  great  congeniality  of  spirit 
between  them,  they  became  united  in  the  bonds 
of  an  indissoluble  friendship.  Mr.  Rabenhorst 
was  likewise  apprehensive,  from  the  known  cha- 
racter of  his  associate,  (Mr.  Triebner,)  that  the 
absence  of  Dr.  Muhlenburg  would  furnish  an 
opportunity  for  new  difficulties,  if  not  for  the 
opening  of  the  old  breach. 

Against  the  recurrence  of  any  further  disrup- 
tion between  the  two  pastors  and  their  respec- 
tive parties,  Dr.  Muhlenburg  had  endeavoured 
to  guard,  as  far  as  a  wise  foresight  would  accom- 
plish such  an  object.  He  carefully  investigated 
all  the  financial  affairs  of  the  church,  and  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  trustees  a  statement  of  the 
property  belonging  to  the  congregation,  together 
with  the  deeds,  grants,  &;c.,  and  arranged  that 
the  trustees,  and  not  the  pastors,  should  as  far  as 
practicable  superintend  the  management  of  all 
the  temporal  affairs  of  the  congregation.  He 
further  inducted  Mr.  Rabenhorst  as  first  pastor 
or  senior  minister,  and  made  such  an  arrange- 
ment in  reference  to  the  relations  which  he  and 


190  THE    SALZBURGERS 


Mr.  Triebner  should  in  future  sustain  toward 
each  other,  as  to  prevent  any  further  jealousy 
or  disaffection.  With  a  man  of  Mr.  Triebner's 
disposition  it  was,  however,  almost  impossible 
to  live  upon  terms  of  friendship,  and  for  the 
simple  reason,  that  he  was  in  a  great  measure 
destitute  of  that  spirit  of  Christian  humility  and 
brotherly  love,  which  was  necessary  to  make 
a  "true  yoke-fellow"  in  the  gospel.  Besides, 
the  rupture  between  him  and  his  colleague  had 
been  of  such  a  character,  that  it  was  difficult,  if 
not  impossible,  to  induce  a  man  like  Mr.  Trieb- 
ner,  having,  it  is  to  be  feared,  but  a  small  share 
of  grace  in  his  heart,  cordially  and  sincerely  to 
forgive  the  past,  and  to  become  fully  reconciled 
to  his  brother.  If,  therefore,  there  Avas  no  open 
hostility  between  the  parties,  the  asperity  of 
feeling  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Triebner  was  never 
fully  subdued. 

It  has  been  stated  that  Dr.  Muhlenburg  made 
a  careful  investigation  of  all  the  property  be- 
longing to  the  church,  at  the  time  of  his  last 
visit  to  Ebenezer  in  1774  and  1775.  For  the 
satisfaction  of  those  who  may  feel  interested  in 
this  matter,  a  copy  of  the  inventory  which  he 
left  is  here  inserted : 

1.  In  the  hands  of  Pastor  Rabenhorst,  a  capital  of 
300Z.  165.  bd. 

2.  In  the  hands  of  John  Caspar  Wertsch,  for  the  store, 
300L 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  191 


3.  In  the  mill  treasury,  notes  and  money,  2297.  lG,s\  2d. 

4.  Pastor  Triebner  has  some  money  in  hands,  (400/.,) 
the  application  of  which  has  not  been  determined  by 
our  Reverend  Fathers. 

5.  Belonging  to  the  church  is  a  Negro  boy  at  Mr.  John 
Floerl's,  and  a  Negro  girl  at  Mr.  David  Steiner's. 

G.  A  town-lot  and  an  out-lot,  of  which  Mr.  John 
Triebner  has  the  grant  in  his  hands. 

7.  An  inventory  of  personal  goods  in  the  mills  be- 
longing to  the  estate. 

8.  And,  finally,  real  estate,  with  the  mills,  925  acres  of 
land. 

At  a  very  reasonable  estimate,  this  property 
must  have  been  worth  about  twelve  thousand 
dollars.  To  this  sum  additions  were  subse- 
quently made,  by  donations  from  the  patrons  of 
the  colony  in  Germany,  and  by  legacies  from 
private  individuals  ;  so  that  it  is  not  assuming 
too  much  to  say,  that  the  church  property  could 
not  have  been  worth  much  less  than  twenty 
thousand  dollars. 

It  has  been  questioned  by  many  wise  and  judi- 
cious minds,  whether  the  funding  of  a  large 
capital  for  the  benefit  of  a  congregation  is  to 
be  commended.  "Whatever  objections  may  be 
urged  against  this  policy  as  a  general  rule,  we 
think  in  the  case  of  the  Salzburgers  it  was  not 
only  wise,  but  absolutely  necessary.  Amid  the 
persecutions  which  they  had  endured  in  the 
fatherland,  their  property  had  been  confiscated, 
and  they  had  been  driven  from  their  homes,  and 
thrown    upon    the   charity   of    their    Christian 


192  THE   SALZBURGERS 


friends.  They  came  to  America  as  exiles — poor, 
and  houseless ;  and  but  for  the  liberality  of  their 
patrons  in  Germany  and  England,  they  could 
not  have  subsisted,  much  less  could  they  have 
provided  the  means  to  build  churches  and  school- 
houses  and  support  their  ministers.  In  their 
circumstances,  the  establishment  of  a  church 
fund  was  an  act  of  necessity ;  and  though  in 
other  cases  such  a  measure  may  be  deemed 
objectionable,  with  them  it  was  perfectly  justifi- 
able, as  without  it  the  colonial  churches  could 
never  have  been  sustained.  It  is  true,  that  when 
the  descendants  of  the  Salzburgers  became  able 
to  support  their  pastors,  at  least  to  a  consider- 
able extent,  they  withheld  their  contributions, 
and  relied  too  much  upon  the  income  of  their 
funded  capital ;  yet  this  dereliction  of  duty  on 
their  part,  furnishes  no  just  ground  of  objection 
against  the  provision  which  was  made  for  the 
churches  and  their  pastors  in  the  infancy  of  the 
colony.  The  true  policy  for  every  church  to 
adopt  is,  to  support  its  pastor  and  to  maintain 
itself  by  voluntary  contrihutions  on  the  part  of 
its  members.  This  is  according  to  apostolic  in- 
junction, as  well  as  the  practice  of  the  primitive 
church;  and  God  seems  wisely  to  have  connected 
the  spiritual  prosperity  of  a  church  with  the 
liberality  of  its  members,  in  bestowing  their 
worldly  goods  to  the  support  of  the  cause  of 
Christ.    There  is  certainly  a  "  withholding  which 


AND    THET?.    DF.SCENDAXTS.  193 

tendeth  to  poverty,"  and  it  is  only  the  ^^  liberal 
souV  that  is  to  <'6<?  made  fat."  As  a  general 
rule,  God  has  ordained  that  "  they  ■svho  preach 
the  gospel  shall  live  of  the  gospel,"  and  a  peo- 
ple assume  a  fearful  responsibility  who,  while 
they  enjoy  the  labours  of  a  minister,  seek  to 
relieve  themselves  of  the  obligation  to  support 
him,  by  throwing  him  upon  his  own  private  re- 
sources. They  thus  rob  the  labourer  of  his  just 
reward,  and  force  him  into  some  secular  calling 
to  gain  a  maintenance  for  himself  and  family, 
that  the  church,  for  which  he  is  spending  him- 
self, is  bound  most  solemnly  and  religiously  to 
furnish.  No  church  can  expect  to  prosper,  and 
be  "enriched  with  all  spiritual  gifts,"  that  pur- 
sues such  a  course.  God  will  be  honoured  with  the 
bestowal  of  our  substance,  as  well  as  the  dedica- 
tion of  our  personal  service  to  himself;  and 
where  the  former  is  intentionally  withheld,  there 
is  very  little  ground  for  hope  that  the  latter 
will  ever  be  acceptable.  These  remarks,  how- 
ever, will  not  apply  to  the  first  settlers  at  Eben- 
ezer,  how  much  soever  some  of  their  descendants 
may  have  been  in  fault. 

The  general  state  of  the  colony  at  Ebenezer 
w^as  on  the  whole  very  favourable.  It  is  true, 
as  has  been  noticed,  there  were  some  unpleasant 
occurrences  in  the  congregation,  but  they  did 
not  seem  to  affect  very  seriously  the  temporal 
prosperity  of  the  Salzburgers.  They  prosecuted 
17 


194  THE    SALZBURGEPvS 


their  various  pursuits  "with  their  accustomed 
industry  and  perseverance,  and  their  labours 
were  abundantly  rewarded.  The  town  of  Eben- 
ezer  attained  about  this  time  to  the  height  of  its 
importance.  The  population  of  the  town  proper 
was  not  less  than  five  hundred  persons.  Almost 
every  kind  of  trade  was  successfully  carried  on. 
The  mechanic,  the  artisan,  and  the  merchant 
followed  their  respective  avocations  with  zeal 
and  energy,  and  their  thrift  met  Avith  due  re- 
ward. There  is  an  old  picture  representing  the 
appearance  of  Ebenezer  at  this  period.  It  is  a 
mere  outline  of  the  principal  points  in  and 
around  the  town ;  but  the  Savannah  river  is 
distinctly  delineated,  and  in  the  distance  may 
be  seen  two  schooners  riding  at  anchor  not  far 
from  "Ebenezer  landing."  This  may  be  in 
some  respects  merely  "a  fancy  sketch,"  but 
there  is  no  doubt  of  the  fact,  that  a  regular 
trade  was  carried  on  between  Ebenezer  and  Sa- 
vannah, and  perhaps  also  with  Charleston,  by 
means  of  these  schooners  or  sloops.  Through 
Savannah  the  people  also  conducted  some 
foreign  trade,  for  it  has  already  been  stated 
that  silk  was  exported  to  England,  and  the  Salz- 
burgers  were  constantly  receiving  drugs  and 
medicines  and  other  supplies  from  Germany. 

There  was  also  a  gradual  increase  of  the  popu- 
lation, and  new  farms  were  constantly  settled  in 
almost  every  part   of   the  country.     This  was 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  195 


particularly  the  case  in  relation  to  the  lands  on 
the  water  courses,  and  along  the  main  road 
leading  from  Savannah  to  Augusta,  and  which 
passed  through  Ebenezer.  There  was,  however, 
with  this  increase  of  the  population,  a  change  in 
the  character  of  the  inhabitants.  A  number  of 
settlers  came  over  from  Carolina,  and  some 
from  other  portions  of  Georgia.  The  majority 
of  these,  however,  located  in  the  upper  part  of 
the  parish,  or  on  its  western  borders,  near  the 
Ogechee  river.  Many  of  these  settlers  became 
among  the  most  respectable  and  useful  citizens 
in  the  parish,  and  the  descendants  of  not  a  few 
are  still  residing  in  the  counties  of  Effingham 
and  Scriven. 

New  scenes,  however,  were  about  to  be  en- 
acted in  the  Province  of  Georgia,  and  the  Salz- 
burgers  were  called  upon  to  take  part  in  some 
very  important  measures,  and  to  mingle  in 
strange  and  thrilling  scenes.  The  passage  by 
the  British  Parliament  of  the  Stamp  Act,  the 
tax  on  tea,  and  the  subsequent  blockade  of  the 
port  of  Boston,  because  of  the  resistance  of  the 
people  of  Massachusetts  to  these  unjust  and 
tyrannical  measures,  had  excited  the  indignation 
of  all  the  colonies  in  America.  The  public  mind 
in  the  Province  of  Georgia  was,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  considerably  agitated  in  common  with 
the  people  of  the  other  colonics ;  and  at  an  early 
period  in  this  controversy  Georgia  declared  her- 


196  THE    SALZBURGERS 


self  opposed  to  the  enactments  of  Parliament, 
and  expressed,  in  unmistakeable  language,  her 
sympathy  with  her  sister,  Massachusetts.  A 
Provincial  Congress  Avas  held  at  Savannah  on 
the  4th  of  July,  1774,  consisting  of  delegates 
from  the  different  parishes  in  the  province.  The 
Salzburgers  could  not  remain  indifferent  or  in- 
active spectators.  When  a  call  was  addressed 
to  the  parishes,  requesting  them  to  send  dele- 
gates to  this  congress,  the  Parish  of  St.  Mat- 
thew promptly  responded,  ,  and  the  following 
persons  were  duly  chosen. "^m,  John  iStirk,  John 
Adam  Truetlen,  George  "Walton,  Edward  Jones, 
Jacob  Waldhaue?',  Philip  Howell,  Isaac  Young, 
Jenkins  Davis,  John  Morel,  Johii  Floerl,  Charles 
McCay,  ChristoiJier  Craemer.  Thus  the  Salz- 
burgers, or  a  very  large  majority  of  them,  identi- 
fied themselves  with  the  cause  of  American  In- 
dependence even  in  its  very  incipienc}^,  and,  as 
will  hereafter  appear,  they  bore  their  full  share 
in  all  the  dangers  and  sufferings  of  the  struggle 
which  ensued. 

There  was  a  portion  of  the  Salzburgers,  how- 
ever, who  (no  doubt  from  conscientious  motives) 
refused  to  unite  in  any  remonstrance  against 
the  proceedings  of  the  mother  country,  or  to 
take  any  part  in  the  revolutionary  measures 
which  were  afterwards  adopted.     The  following 

*  Salzburgers  in  italics. 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  107 


document    is    inserted   to  show  the  feelings  of 
these  Salzbiirgers : 

Wednesday,  Septembvr  21,  177o. 

Wc,  who  have  just  put  our  names  to  this  paper,  inha- 
bitants of  the  Parish  of  St.  ^latthew  and  town  of  Eben- 
ezer,  think  it  neccssai-y  in  this  public  manner  to  declare 
that  about  tlic  4th  day  of  this  inst.  (August)  we  were 
told  by  certain  persons  that  we  must  send  a  petition 
home  to  our  king  in  regard  to  the  Bostonians,  to  beg  for 
relief,  as  a  child  begs  a  father  when  he  expects  correc- 
tion; and  that  all  those  who  would  not  join  must  sign 
their  names,  that  they  might  know  how  many  would  be  in 
this  parish ;  and  that  should  we  decline  what  was  recom- 
mended, we  must  expect  the  Stamp  Act  imposed  upon  u.s. 
By  these  and  like  flattering  words  wc  were  persuaded  to 
sign,  but  wc  find  vrc  arc  deceived,  for  that  the  people 
who  met  at  Savannah  on  the  10th  inst.  did  not  petition 
our  king,  but  made  up  a  paper,  which  we  think  is  very 
wrong,  and  may  incur  the  displeasure  of  his  Majesty,  so 
as  to  prevent  us  from  having  soldiers  to  help  us  in  case 
of  an  Indian  war.  We  therefore  disagree  entirely  from 
said  paper,  and  do  Jhereljy  protest  against  any  resolutions 
that  are,  or  may  hereafter  be,  entered  into  on  this  occa- 
sion. Signed,  Urban  Buntz,  George  Gnann,  John  Paulus, 
George  Gruber,  Matthew  Biddenbach,  George  Ballingor, 
John  0.  Kentz,  George  Buntz,  John  Pillager,  Henry 
Ludwig  Buniz,  Jacob  Metzgor,  John  Metzger,  John 
Adam  Freymouth,  Jacob  Feberl,  George  Zittraucr,  John 
Ileckel,  Solomon  Zandt,  Jacob  Gnann,  Jacob  Kieft'er, 
Christian  Steiner,  John  Rerashart,  Israel  Linlberger, 
Leonhart  Krauss,  George  Bechly,  Batlas  Kieffer,  Michael 
Mack,  Jr.,  Peter  Freyermouth,  Solomon  Prothero,  John 
Gravenstinc,  Christopher  llottenberger,  Andrew  Gnann. 

We,  the  subscribers,  do  hereby  certify  that  we  are 
against  all  resolutions :  Philip  Dell,  Paul  Pirick,  Mat- 
thew 3Ieycr,  Jacob  ^Icycr,  John  Maurer,  George  ^laurcr, 
Dauicl  Weitman,  Martin  Reyhmder. 
17- 


VJS  the    iSALZBURGERS 


These  latter  persons,  at  this  time,  belonged 
clearly  to  that  class  who  advocated  the  doctrine 
of  "passive  obedience  and  non-resistance,"  re- 
cognising, no  doubt,  the  divine  right  of  kings, 
and  yielding  uncomplaining  acquiescence  in  the 
will  of  their  sovereign. 

The  views  of  these  remonstrants  were,  how- 
ever, subsequently  very  materially  changed,  and 
the  majority  of  them  espoused  warmly  the  Whig 
cause,  and  took  a  very  active  part  in  favour  of 
American  Independence. 

The  adherents  to  the  crown  in  St.  Matthew's 
Parish  proved  ultimately  to  be  comparatively 
few.  Yet  they  were  sufficient  to  create  an 
angry  controversy  among  the  inhabitants,  which 
imbittered  their  feelings,  and  interfered  very 
materially  with  the  peace  and  prosj^erity  of  the 
church.  The  largest  portion  of  the  Salzburgers 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  colonies.  They  ex- 
claimed, <'We  have  experienced  the  evils  of 
tyranny  in  our  own  land;  for  the  sake  of  liberty 
we  have  left  home,  lands,  houses,  estates,  and 
have  taken  refuge  in  the  wilds  of  Georgia;  shall 
we  now  submit  again  to  bondage?  No,  never." 
A  truly  noble  sentiment !  and  one  which  all  the 
boasted  patriotism  of  New  England  never  sur- 
passed. They  had  realized  the  sweets  of  free- 
dom, they  had  sat  beneath  the  tree  of  liberty, 
reposed  in  its  shade,  and  partaken  of  its  precious 
fruits ;  they  therefore  resolved  that  they  would 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  199 


be  freemen,  and  maintain  their  just  rights  at  all 
hazards. 

But  they  dreamed  not  as  yet  of  the  difficul- 
ties and  privations  which  awaited  them,  nor  the 
scenes  of  severe  conflict  through  which  they 
would  have  to  pass.  They  were  divided  among 
themselves.  Even  one  of  their  pastors  (Mr. 
Triebner)  openly  espoused  the  cause  of  the  king, 
and  used  all  his  influence  to  suppress  the  spirit 
of  resistance  to  the  usurpations  of  the  British 
government,  which  was  everywhere  manifesting 
itself.  And  it  was  as  much  owing  to  his  efforts, 
as  to  those  of  any  other  man,  that  the  Salzbur- 
gers  suffered  so  severely  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  Mr.  Rabenhorst  pursued  a  more 
manly  and  judicious  course,  which  was,  however, 
to  have  been  expected  from  his  known  character 
for  prudence.  If  he  did  not  openly  espouse  the 
cause  of  liberty,  he  did  nothing  to  injure  it. 
He  laboured  to  calm  the  turbulence  of  passion, 
and  endeavoured  to  enforce,  by  precept  and  ex- 
ample, the  cultivation  of  a  spirit  of  moderation 
and  forbearance  among  those  who  had  taken 
opposite  sides  in  this  controversy.  This,  how- 
ever, was  impossible  in  the  very  nature  of  things ; 
and  it  was  perhaps  fortunate  for  him,  that  in  the 
midst  of  the  commotion  and  the  scenes  of  strife 
which  ensued,  he  was  called  by  the  great  Head 
of  the  church  to  receive  his  reward  in  heaven. 

It  has  been  found  impracticable  to  ascertain 


200  THE   SALZliUllGEHS 


the  precise  time  when  Mr.  Rabenhorst  departed 
this  life,  nor  any  of  the  particulars  connected 
with  his  death.  He  arrived  at  Ebenezer  in 
1752,  and  probably  served  the  congregation 
about  twenty-five  years.  His  character  for  piety, 
learning,  Christian  humility,  and  unyielding 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ  was  fully  estab- 
lished, and  the  testimony  of  his  life  is  the  best 
guarantee  that  he  closed  his  earthly  pilgrimage 
in  full  prospect  of  a  better  inheritance.  His  re- 
mains Avere  deposited  in  the  cemetery  connected 
with  Zion's  church,  about  four  miles  below  Eben- 
ezer. It  was  near  this  church  that  Mr.  Raben- 
horst always  resided,  the  other  pastor  being  set- 
tled in  Ebenezer. 

The  influence  of  Mr.  Rabenhorst's  example 
upon  the  Salzburgers  was  very  salutary ;  and,  but 
for  the  counteracting  effect  of  Mr.  Triebner's 
efforts  and  deportment,  he  would  have  accom- 
plished a  vast  amount  of  good.  Even  amid  the 
adverse  circumstances  which  surrounded  him, 
he  did  very  much  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of 
the  congregation ;  and  the  pious  Salzburgers  in 
Savannah,  and  throughout  his  whole  charge, 
held  him  in  very  high  esteem.  But,  like  his 
worthy  colleagues,  Bolzius  and  Lembke,  he 
passed  away  from  earth,  and  now  sleeps  calmly 
among  those  for  whom  he  laboured  well  and  pro- 
fitably for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 


AND    TIILIl;    ntFCENDANTS.  20! 


CHAPTER  X. 

Descent  of  the  British  upon  Georgia — General  Provost  takes  Sa- 
vannah— Briti:=h  posts  along  the  river — Mr.  Tricbner  takes  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  crown,  and  conducts  troops  to  Eben- 
ezer — A  garrison  established  under  Major  Maitland — Proclama- 
tion issued  by  Major  Maitland — Some  of  the  Salzburgers  take 
"  protections" — Majority  of  the  Salzburgers  Whigs — Governor 
Treutlen — Ilolsendorf — John  and  Samuel  Stirk — John  Schnider 
— Strohakcr — Jonathan  and  Gotlieb  Schnider — Jonathan  Piahn 
— Ernest  Zittrauer — Joshua  and  Jacob  Helfenstein — Sufferings 
of  the  Salzburgers  during  the  war — Tories — Eichel  and  Martin 
Dasher — Marauding  parties — Frederick  Helfenstein  and  his 
two  sons — General  "Wayne — The  Salzburgers  forced  to  abandon 
their  homes — Sufferings  at  Ebenezer — Prisoners — Sergeants 
Jasper  and  Xewton — Sacrilegious  act  of  the  British  toward  the 
church  at  Ebenezer — Other  acts  of  cruelty — Mistaken  policy 
of  the  British — Sad  influence  of  the  licentiousness  of  the  British 
trooijs  upon  the  morals  of  Ebenezer — Pastor  Triebrer — His 
removal  to  England  and  death — General  character  of  the  pas- 
tors at  Ebenezer — Triebner  an  exception — Dispensations  of 
Providence — General  Wayne  attempts  the  reduction  of  Savan- 
nah— British  troops  withdrawn  from  Ebenezer — General  Wayno 
makes  his  head-quarters  there — British  evacuate  Savannah — 
Salzburgers  return  to  Ebenezer — Scene  of  desolation — Condi- 
tion of  the  church — Congregation  without  a  pastor — Petition 
sent  to  Germany — Dr.  Muhlenburg's  concern  for  the  Salzbur- 
gers— A  minister  visits  Ebenezer — Dr.  Muhlenburg's  letter — 
Vindication  of  Mr.  Triebner — Pastor  to  be  sent  in  the  spring — 
Despondency  among  the  Salzburgers — Darkness  begins  to  dis- 
appear— New  pastor  about  to  be  sent. 

The  Revolutionary  War  commenced  in  1775. 
But  it  was  not  till  1779  that  any  demonstration 


202  THE    SALZBURGERS 


,7as  made  against  Georgia.  In  that  year,  Gene- 
ral Provost,  acting  under  instructions  from  Sir 
Henry  Clinton,  made  a  descent  upon  Georgia, 
and  met  with  comparatively  little  resistance. 
He  made  his  head-quarters  at  Savannah,  and 
proceeded  to  establish  posts  along  the  western 
bank  of  the  Savannah  river.  When  Mr.  Trieb- 
ner  heard  that  General  Provost  was  in  Savan- 
nah, he  waited  upon  him,  took  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance to  the  crown,  and  advised  that  Ebenezer 
should  be  occupied  by  royal  troops.  This  was 
accordingly  done,  and  Mr.  Triebner  had  the 
honour  (?)  to  conduct  a  detachment  of  British 
soldiers  to  Ebenezer.  These  troops  were  under 
the  command  of  Major  Maitland.  Upon  arriv- 
ing at  Ebenezer,  they  threw  up  a  redoubt  within 
a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  church,  with  a  view 
to  fortify  their  position  and  guard  against  a  sur- 
prise. The  remains  of  this  fortification  are  ftill 
standing. 

Upon  arriving  at  Ebenezer,  Major  Maitland 
issued  a  proclamation  to  the  inhabitants  of  St. 
Matthew's  Parish,  offering  the  protection  of  the 
British  arms  to  all  who  might  be  disposed  to 
take  an  oath  of  loyalty  and  allegiance  to  the 
crown.  Many  of  the  Salzburgers,  influenced  by 
the  advice  and  example  of  Mr.  Triebner,  ac- 
cepted this  offer,  and  obtained  certificates  gua- 
ranteeing protection  to  themselves  and  to  their 
property.      The    majority    of   the   Salzburgers, 


AND   TlIEIll    DKSCl-XDANTS.  *20*J 


however,  warmly  espoused  the  Republican  cause. 
Those  who  figured  most  conspicuously  were  John 
Adam  Treutlen,  rebel  governor;  William  Hol- 
sendorf,  a  rebel  counsellor;  John  Stirk,  rebel 
colonel;  Samuel  Stirk,  rebel  secretary;  John 
Schnider,  planter;  Rudolph  Strohakcr,  butcher. 
Beside  these,  mention  should  be  made  of  Jona- 
than Schnider,  J.  Gotlieb  Schnider,  Jonathan 
Rahn,  Ernest  Zittrauer,  Joshua  and  Jacob  Hel- 
fenstein,  and  others.  Most  of  these  worthy  men 
served  faithfully  in  the  struggle  for  independence, 
under  General  Wayne  and  other  officers  in  the 
American  army,  and  their  names  deserve  to  be 
perpetuated  with  the  long  list  of  worthies  who 
distinguished  themselves  by  their  devotion  to 
the  cause  of  liberty. 

The  citizens  of  Ebenezer  and  the  surrounding 
country  were  made  to  feel  very  severely  the 
eifects  of  the  war.  The  property  of  those  wjio 
did  not  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  was  confis- 
cated, and  they  were  constantly  exposed  to  every 
species  of  insult  and  wrong  from  a  hired  and 
profligate  soldiery.  Beside  this,  some  of  the 
Salzburgers  who  espoused  the  cause  of  the  crown 
became  very  inveterate  in  their  hostility  to  the 
AVhigs  in  the  settlement,  and  pillaged  and  then 
burned  their  dwellings.  The  residence  on  the 
farm  of  the  pious  Rabenhorst,  was  among  the 
fi.rst  that  was  given  to  the  flames. 

Among    those   who   distinguished  themselves 


204  THE   SALZBURGERS 


for  their  cruelty,  was  one  Eichel,  who  has  been 
properly  termed  an  "  inhuman  miscreant,"  whose 
residence  was  at  Goshen ;  and  Martin  Dasher, 
who  kept  a  public-house  five  miles  below  Eben- 
ezer.  These  men  placed  themselves  at  the  head 
of  marauding  parties,  composed  of  British  and 
Tories,  and  laid  waste  every  plantation  or  farm 
whose  occupant  was  even  suspected  of  favouring 
the  republican  cause.  In  these  predatory  ex- 
cursions the  most  revolting  cruelty  and  unbridled 
licentiousness  were  indulged,  and  the  whole 
country  was  overrun  and  devastated.  Dasher 
seems  to  have  distinguished  himself  fully  as 
much  as  Eichel^  though  perhaps  he  was  not  quite 
so  cruel.  He  had  stolen  some  cattle  from  a  poor 
widow,  and  General  Wayne,  while  occupying 
Ebenezer,  sent  him  word  that  if  he  did  not  re- 
store them  to  her  in  person,  he  would  have  him 
taken  into  custody  and  gibbeted.  This  threat 
had  the  desired  effect,  and  Dasher  became  less 
troublesome  to  his  neighbours. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  Mr.  Frederick  Hel- 
fenstein,  who  settled  at  Goshen.  He  had  ac- 
quired some  property  before  the  war  commenced, 
and  might  have  been  considered  in  comfortable 
circumstances.  It  is  known  that  he  owned  a 
large  tannery  in  successful  operation,  a  good 
farm,  and  several  valuable  Negroes.  Of  all  this 
property  he  was  dispossessed  by  the  Tories,  (or 
Cow-boys,  as  they  were  then  called,)  and  he  was 


AND    TIIKIIl    r»ESCKXI)AXT?.  205 


left  penniless  to  begin  the  -world  anew.  Thus 
it  would  seem  that  his  misfortunes  did  not  cease 
even  after  his  settlement  in  Georgia.  Yet  he 
never  deserted  the  Whig  cause,  and  furnished,  in 
the  persons  of  his  sons,  several  bold  soldiers 
during  the  war.  Two  of  them  joined  a  troop 
of  cavalry  under  Colonel  McCoy,  and  subse- 
quently served  under  General  Wayne.  AVhen 
General  Wayne,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  returned 
to  Pennsylvania,  (his  native  State,)  these  two 
brothers,  Joshua  and  Jacob  Helfenstein,  accom- 
panied him,  and  it  is  more  than  probable  that 
from  them  the  Helfenstein  family  in  Pennsyl- 
vania is  descended,  several  of  whom  are  now 
distinguished  preachers  in  the  German  Reformed 
Church.  In  Georgia  the  name  has  been  changed 
to  Helvenston.  Mr.  John  C.  Ilelvenston,  of 
Macon  county,  Georgia,  and  his  brother,  residing 
in  Florida,  no  doubt  belong  to  the  same  family. 
Mr.  Frederick  Helfenstein  died  at  Goshen  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three,  and  his  wife, 
"who  survived  him  many  years,  at  the  extreme 
old  age  of  ninety-three  ! 

The  Salzburgers,  nevertheless,  were  to  expe- 
rience great  annoyances  from  other  sources. 
General  Clinton,  as  before  stated,  had  directed 
that  a  line  of  British  posts  should  be  estab- 
lished all  along  the  western  bank  of  the  Sa- 
vannah river,  to  check  the  demonstrations  of  the 
rebel  forces  in  Carolina.     Under  these  circum- 

18 


20G  TIIK   SALZBURGERS 


Stances  Ebenezer,  from  its  somewhat  central 
position,  became  a  kind  of  thoroughfare  for  the 
British  troops  in  passing  through  the  country 
from  Augusta  to  Savannah.  To  the  inhabitants 
of  Ebenezer,  particularly,  this  was  a  source  of 
perpetual  annoyance.  British  troops  were  con- 
stantly quartered  among  them,  and  to  avoid  the 
rudeness  of  the  soldiers  and  the  heavy  tax  upon 
their  resources,  many  of  the  best  citizens  were 
forced  to  abandon  their  homes,  and  settle  in  the 
country,  thus  leaving  their  houses  to  the  mercy 
of  their  cruel  invaders. 

Besides  all  this,  they  were  forced  to  witness 
almost  daily  acts  of  cruelty  practised  by  the 
British  and  Tories  toward  those  Americans  who 
happened  to  fall  into  their  hands  as  prisoners 
of  war ;  for  it  will  be  remembered  that  Eben- 
ezer, while  in  the  hands  of  the  British,  was  the 
point  to  which  all  prisoners  taken  in  the  sur- 
rounding country  were  brought,  and  from  thence 
sent  to  Savannah.  It  was  from  this  post  that 
the  prisoners  were  carried  who  were  rescued  by 
Sergeant  Jasper  and  his  comrade,  Newton,  at 
the  "Jasper  Spring,"  a  few  miles  above  Sa- 
vannah. 

There  was  one  act  performed  by  the  British 
commander  which  was  peculiarly  trying  and 
revolting  to  the  Salzburgers.  Their  fine  brick 
church  was  converted  into  a  hospital  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  sick  and  wounded,  and 


AND    THKIIl    DK.^CEXDAXTS.  207 


subsequently  it  was  desecrated  by  being  used  as 
a  stable  for  their  horses.  To  this  latter  use  it 
was  devoted  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  the 
removal  of  the  British  troops  from  Georgia. 
To  show  their  contempt  for  the  church,  and 
their  disregard  for  the  religious  sentiments  of 
the  people,  the  church  records  were  nearly  all 
destroyed,  and  the  soldiers  would  discharge  their 
guns  at  different  objects  on  the  church;  and  even 
to  this  day  the  metal  ^^swan,"  (Luther's  coat 
of  arms,)  which  surmounts  the  spire  on  the 
steeple,  bears  the  mark  of  a  musket  ball,  which 
was  fired  through  it  by  a  reckless  soldier.  Often, 
too,  cannon  were  discharged  at  the  houses ;  and 
there  is  a  log  house  now  standing  not  far  from 
Ebenezer,  which  was  perforated  by  several  can- 
non shot.  In  short,  it  was  the  policy  (an  unwise 
one,  truly)  of  the  English  officers  at  this  post,  as 
it  was  at  every  other  which  they  occupied,  to 
make  their  power  felt,  and  by  mere  brutal  force 
to  awe  the  colonists  into  subjection.  The  Salz- 
burgers  endured  all  these  hardships  and  indigni- 
ties with  becoming  fortitude ;  and  though  a  few 
were  overcome  by  these  severe  measures,  yet 
the  great  mass  of  them  remained  firm  in  their 
attachment  to  the  principles  of  liberty. 

One  of  the  most  serious  consequences  which 
resulted  to  Ebenezer  and  the  neighbourhood, 
from  the  occupancy  of  the  town  by  the  British, 
was  the  sad  state  of  morals  which  ensued.     The 


208  THE    SALZCURGEP.S 


soldiers  were  licentious  in  the  extreme,  and  tip- 
pling-houses  were  established  for  their  accommo- 
dation in  several  parts  of  the  town.  These  be- 
came the  resort  for  the  soldiers  and  many  of 
those  Salzburgers  who  espoused  the  royal  cause, 
and  thus  habits  of  intemperance  were  intro- 
duced, and  the  once  sober  and  moral  Germans 
soon  learned  to  imitate  the  vicious  practices  of 
their  corrupt  and  debased  English  associates. 
It  was  bad  enough  to  desecrate  the  church,  to 
devastate  the  country,  and  to  drive  off  the  inha- 
bitants. These  were,  however,  light  evils  com- 
pared with  the  poisonous  moral  influences  which 
were  spread  among  those  who  remained,  by  the 
vicious  practices- which  are  always  more  or  less 
incident  upon  the  soldier's  life  in  the  camp. 
These  eifects  were  seen  and  felt  many  years 
after  the  Revolution  terminated. 

It  might  be  interesting  to  some,  to  insert  a 
detailed  account  of  the  events  which  are  said  to 
have  occurred  at  Ebenezer  during  the  war,  but 
many  of  them  rest  upon  rather  questionable 
authority,  and  are,  besides,  not  of  much  histori- 
cal value.  The  most  important  to  our  narrative 
is  the  part  which  was  taken  by  Mr.  Triebner, 
the  pastor  at  Ebenezer.  He  seems  to  have  re- 
mained unmoved  amid  all  the  wrongs  which  the 
Salzburgers  suffered  from  the  British ;  and  when 
the  war  terminated  he  accompanied  the  English 
troops  to  England,  where  he  continued  to  reside 


AND  THEIIl   DESCENDANTS.  209 


until  he  attained  the  advanced  age  of  seventy- 
eight  years.  It  was  a  wise  movement  on  hia 
part  to  leave  the  country  in  company  with  the 
English  troops ;  for  in  view  of  the  extreme 
lengths  to  which  he  went  in  carrying  out  his 
Tory  principles,  it  is  certain  that  the  Salzburgers 
would  never  afterward  have  tolerated  him.  It 
was  therefore  a  fortunate  thing  for  him,  that  he 
found  an  asylum  in  England,  where  he  could 
end  his  days  in  retirement  and  comparative 
peace. 

The  departure  of  Mr.  Triebner  occasioned  no 
regrets  among  those  Salzburgcrs  who  had  sym- 
pathized with  the  Whigs  of  the  Revolution,  and 
we  doubt  very  much  if  his  friends  cherished  any 
particular  desire  to  retain  him.  His  appoint- 
ment as  one  of  the  pastors  at  Ebenezer  was 
very  unfortunate  in  every  respect,  but  it  fur- 
nishes another  mournful  evidence  of  the  falli- 
bility of  human  judgment.  The  patrons  of  the 
Salzburgers,  in  Germany,  exercised  always,  as 
they  supposed,  a  wise  discrimination  in  selecting 
pastors  for  the  Ebenezer  congregations  ;  and  it 
is  worthy  of  remark  that  this  was  the  only  in- 
stance in  which  their  judgment  was  at  fault ; 
but  alas!  what  mournful  consequences  resulted 
even  from  this  one  mistake  !  It  was,  however, 
permitted  for  some  wise  purpose ;  and  although 
with  our  present  darkened  vision  we  cannot 
comprehend  the  design  which  God  contemplated, 
18-^ 


210  THE   SALZBURGERS 


it  is  the  duty  of  the  Christian  to  bow  in  humble 
submission,  and  believe  that  the  glory  of  God 
"vvill  be  promoted  even  by  those  events  in  the 
history  of  the  church  which  are  seemingly  the 
most  adverse.  Sometimes  he  permits  an  ungodly 
minister  to  creep  into  a  church,  to  test  the 
stability  of  his  people  in  the  trial  of  their  faith 
and  patience.  Sometimes  he  orders  it  as  a 
punishment  for  the  want  of  faithfulness  in  the 
discharge  of  their  Christian  duties.  But,  Avhat- 
ever  may  be  the  design  of  such  occurrences,  it 
is  for  us  always  to  feel  persuaded  that  God  will 
not  forsake  his  church,  and  that  even  "the  gates 
of  hell  sh^U  never  prevail  against  her." 

In  the  year  1783  the  American  troops,  under 
General  Wayne,  attempted  to  recover  Savannah 
from  the  British.  General  Clarke,  who  com- 
manded the  royal  troops  in  that  city,  called  in 
his  outposts,  and  made  preparations  to  defend 
his  position.  The  British  troops  being  thus 
withdrawn  from  Ebenezer,  General  Wayne  es- 
tablished his  head-quarters  there.  Between  the 
12th  and  25th  of  July,  1783,  all  the  English 
forces  stationed  at  Savannah,  amounting  to 
twelve  hundred  royalists  and  regulars,  besides 
women,  children,  Indians,  and  Negroes,  sailed 
from  the  port  of  Savannah ;  the  garrison  having 
capitulated  to  General  Wayne  and  other  Ameri- 
can officers.  Thus  Georgia,  after  having  been 
three  years,  six   months,  and  thirteen   days  in 


AND   THEIR    D^:^^CENDA^•TS.  211 


possession  of  the  British,  was  abandoned  after 
an  inglorious  attempt  to  subjugate  her  people  to 
the  control  of  the  mother  country. 

As  soon  as  the  British  left  Georgia,  the  Salz- 
burgers  had  an  opportunity  to  return  to  their 
much  beloved  Ebenezer.  This  many  of  them 
did ;  but  alas !  what  a  scene  of  desolation  was 
presented  !  Many  of  their  dwellings  had  been 
burned,  others  had  been  very  much  injured, 
their  gardens  were  completely  destroyed,  and 
the  general  aspect  of  the  place  so  entirely 
changed  that  they  could  scarcely  realize  that 
here  they  had  once  had  their  homes,  in  which 
they  and  their  children  had  dwelt  in  safety  and 
peace,  and  that  around  those  homes  had  clus- 
tered the  warmest  sympathies  and  most  ardent 
affections  of  their  hearts.  They,  however,  went 
to  work  immediately  to  repair  their  houses,  and 
to  restore,  as  far  as  they  might  be  able,  order 
out  of  the  general  ruin  which  everywhere  pre- 
vailed. 

One  of  the  first  objects  to  which  the  pious 
Salzburgers  directed  their  attention,  was  the 
renovation  of  their  church.  This  they  found  in 
a  most  deplorable  condition.  True,  they  were 
not  compelled  to  adopt  the  lamentation  of  the 
prophet :  <'  Our  holy  and  beautiful  house,  where 
our  fathers  praised  thee,  is  burned  up  withjire/' 
but  they  could  say,  "all  our  2)Ieasa7it  things 
are   laid  waste."     It  has   already  been   stated 


!212  THE   SALZBUHGERS 


that  the  British  had  converted  the  church  into  a 
hospital,  and  subsequently  into  a  stable  for  their 
horses.  For  this  latter  purpose  they  continued 
to  use  it  until  their  departure  from  Ebenezer. 
As  a  matter  of  course,  the  Salzburgers  found  it 
in  a  foul  and  most  disgusting  state ;  and  to 
render  it  again  decent  and  fit  for  use  as  a  place 
for  divine  worship,  was  a  task  almost  equal  to 
cleansing  the  famous  "Augean  stables*"  But 
although  there  was  no  Peneus  whose  waters  they 
could  cause  to  flow  through  their  church,  yet  by 
industry  and  perseverance  they  removed  the 
filth  which  had  accumulated,  repaired  the  edifice, 
and  having  completely  renovated  it,  they  once 
more  assembled  for  the  worship  of  God.  Amid 
the  angry  contentions,  and  the  scenes  of  strife 
and  carnage  incident  upon  the  war,  many  of 
them  had  remained  faithful  in  their  devotion  to 
their  divine  Redeemer,  and  to  the  religion  of 
their  fathers.  Even  when  they  were  scattered 
abroad,  and  were  driven  from  place  to  place  by 
their  enemies,  they  assembled  in  groups  for  the 
purpose  of  prayer  and  mutual  edification.  Now 
that  their  church  was  restored  to  them,  they 
longed  ardently  to  meet  in  the  sanctuary  with  the 
solemn  assembly,  and  worship  according  to  the 
forms  which  had  descended  to  them  from  their 
ancestors,  and  which  were  hallowed  by  so  many 
endearing  associations.  But  who  shall  call  them 
to  the  house  of  God?     The  faithless  Triebner 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  213 


had  abandoned  them ;  the  pious  and  beloved  Ra- 
benhorst  was  sleeping  "his  last  sleep,"  and  there 
"Was  nowhere  to  be  found  any  one  to  sympathize 
with  them  in  their  distress,  or  to  succour  them  in 
this  the  hour  of  their  greatest  need.  They  were 
made  to  realize  that  they  had  been  left  in  a  state 
of  spiritual  orphanage.  They  were  without  a 
pastor.  If  there  was  a  time,  since  their  arrival 
in  Georgia,  when  they  stood  mostly  in  need  of  a 
wise  and  faithful  minister,  it  was  at  this  junc- 
ture. But  alas !  they  knew  of  no  man  speaking 
their  language,  and  sympathizing  with  them  in 
this  their  day  of  severe  trial,  who  would  be  will- 
ing to  become  their  spiritual  shepherd,  and 
<«lead  them  into  the  green  pastures,  and  beside 
the  still  waters"  of  life. 

In  their  destitution  they  naturally  turned 
their  attention  to  the  much-loved  fatherland. 
The  elders  of  tl:te  church  called  together  the 
scattered  members  of  this  once  large  and  inte- 
resting flock,  and  banding  themselves  together 
as  brethren,  they  renewed  their  covenant  en- 
gagements with  God,  and  then  addressed  an 
affectionate  letter  to  the  reverend  fathers  in 
Germany,  humbly  but  earnestly  requesting  that 
a  pastor  might  be  sent  over  "to  break  unto  them 
the  bread  of  life."  A  fraternal  correspondence 
was  opened,  and  their  patrons  in  Germany  ex- 
pressed not  only  their  warm  sympathy  with  the 
Salzburgers  in  their  present  distress,  but  their 


214  THE    SALZBURGERS 


determination  to  send  them  a  suitable  minister 
as  soon  as  one  could  be  obtained. 

Dr.  Mublenburgh  also  interested  himself  on 
behalf  of  the  Salzburgers.  He  wrote  to  Ger- 
many, urging  the  necessity  of  prompt  action  on 
the  part  of  the  church  there  in  sending  a 
preacher  to  Ebenezer.  These  efforts  were  not 
in  vain,  as  shall  presently  be  seen.  But  while 
they  were  pending,  a  Lutheran  minister  visited 
the  churches  at  Savannah  and  Ebenezer,  (for 
they  had  both  suffered  alike  during  the  war,) 
and  he  was  temporarily  employed  until  the  con- 
gregation could  be  supplied  from  Germany.  The 
following  letter,  written  by  Dr.  Muhlenburg  to 
the  Hon.  Mr.  Davis,  will  show  what  the  friends 
in  Germany  were  doing.  It  also  contains  some 
other  facts  which  will  be  read  with  interest. 
The  letter,  it  will  be  noticed,  was  written  in 
1784,  just  after  the  close  of  the  war. 


"  Xew  Providence,  April  19,  1784, 

"Dear  Sir: — As  to  the  accounts  concerning  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  Ebenezer  congregation,  with  which  you 
have  been  pleased  to  favour  me,  I  am  very  much  obliged 
to  you  for  your  confidence  and  ancient  friendsliip.  It 
seemed  to  me  somewhat  strange  and  unexpected,  when 
I  heard  that  the  house  on  Mr.  Rabenhorst's  plantation 
had  been  burned  down,  and  that  the  congregation  had 
hired  a  young  minister  from  Germany.  On  the  same  day 
that  your  letter  arrived,  I  received  an  important  one 
from  Germany,  from  the  unwearied  benefactor,  Rev.  S. 
Urlsperger,  D.D.,  and  President  of  the  Protestant  Evan- 


AND   THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  215 


gCiical    Consistory    in    Augsburg,     containing,     among 
others,  the  following  facts: 

1.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Triebner  has,  since  his  arrival  in 
England,  honestly  paid  the  principal  and  interest  of  the 
three  hundred  pounds  sterling  belonging  to  Ebenezer 
church,  (unto  the  Kev.  S.  Urlsperger,)  which  the  deceased 
Mr.  Caspar  Wertsch  owed  him.  Also,  whatsoever  Mr. 
Triebner  himself  owed  to  the  said  President  he  has  dis- 
charged, and  is  acquitted. 

2.  Moreover,  the  llev.  Dr.  Urlsperger  offers,  that  if 
some  one  or  other  of  the  Ebenezer  congregation  may 
have  a  just  and  lawful  claim  against  Mr.  Triebner,  if  it 
be  laid  before  him  lawfully  proved  and  attested,  it  shall 
be  duly  paid. 

3.  lie  would,  during  the  winter  season,  endeavour  to 
find  out  and  call  a  faithful  and  suitable  minister  for 
Ebenezer  congregation,  and  had  such  a  one  already  in 
view,  to  be  sent  in  the  spring  to  Ebenezer,  if  it  pleased 
God  to  grant  his  blessing  to  it. 

4.  The  reverend  fathers  will  grant  the  interest  of  the 
capital  which  lays  upon  the  estate  of  the  late  Rev.  Ra- 
benhorst  toward  the  support  of  the  new  minister,  and 
therefore  the  said  principal  ought  to  be  well  secured. 

5.  The  said  fathers  have  asked  the  honourable  Society 
in  London,  whether  they  would  be  pleased  to  continue 
their  benefactions  toward  supporting  a  minister  and 
schoolmaster  at  Ebenezer?  and  have  received  for  answer, 
that  the  Society  could  not  extend  their  benefactions  ex- 
cept to  British  subjects,  and  had  now  to  provide  for  a 
multitude  of  poor  obijects. 

G.  The  reverend  President  mentions  that  he  has  for- 
warded a  letter  to  the  wardens  and  elders  at  Ebenezer, 
which  I  hope  has  arrived,  and  will  no  doubt  give  them 
satisfiiction  and  comfort,  so  that  I  have  only  to  add  my 
due  respects. 

Your  well-wishing  friend  and  humble  servant. 

IIexry  M.  Muhlexburg." 

"  To  the  Hon.  Mr.  Davit." 


21G  THE   SALZBURGERS 


This  letter  entirely  removes  all  suspicion  in 
reference  to  the  supposed  dishonesty  of  Mr. 
Triebner,  in  the  management  of  that  part  of  the 
Ebenezer  church  fund  which  he  controlled ; 
and  also  exonerates  Mr.  "VVertsch  from  all 
blame  in  regard  to  the  three  hundred  pounds 
which  he  held  as  a  store-fund.  It  is  important, 
as  showing  that  the  aid  which  the  '<  Society  for 
the  Promotion  of  Christianity"  had  extended  to 
the  Salzburgers,  was  withdrawn  immediately 
upon  the  establishment  of  the  independence  of 
the  States.  The  Salzburgers  were  no  longer 
^^British"  subjects,  and  of  course,  were  re- 
moved beyond  the  charities  of  the  Society.  Fur- 
ther, it  proves,  that  even  after  the  Kevolution  the 
reverend  fathers  claimed  and  exercised  the  right 
to  appoint  the  pastor  for  the  Ebenezer  congre- 
gation, and  this  right  was  duly  admitted  by  the 
wardens  and  elders  of  the  church.  Thus  the 
dependence  of  the  Salzburgers  upon  the  church 
in  Germany  for  ministerial  service,  as  well  as  for 
pecuniary  aid,  continued  until  the  year  1785, 
about  which  time  a  new  pastor  arrived  in 
Georgia. 

Up  to  this  time  the  prospects  of  the  Salz- 
burgers had  been  very  dark,  both  as  regards 
their  temporal  and  spiritual  interests.  They 
recovered  rather  slowly  from  the  sad  effects  of 
the  war.  But  they  never  suffered  themselves  to 
despair.     They  had  been  disciplined  in  a  severe 


AND    TIIEIll    DK?Or:XDANTS.  21' 


school,  and  had  learned  that  it  is  unwise  to 
yield  to  the  force  of  circumstances,  how  forbid- 
ding soever  they  might  be.  They  therefore 
laboured  on  patiently  and  perseveringly,  hoping 
for  happier  and  more  prosperous  days.  They 
believed,  too,  that  their  benefactors  in  Germany 
would  not  be  unmindful  of  their  spiritual  desti- 
tution, and  with  prayerful  and  believing  hearts 
they  looked  to  God,  to  send  them,  through  these 
benefactors,  a  faithful  and  godly  minister — one 
who  would  come  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  his 
station,  and  preach  to  them  that  word  which  had 
been  their  chief  solace  in  the  hours  of  their 
deepest  calamity.  Their  prayers  were  heard, 
and  in  due  time  their  pastor  came.  And  thus, 
as  the  darkest  clouds  which  obscure  the  sun 
are  nevertheless  tinged  by  some  of  his  golden 
rays,  adding  even  beauty  to  the  darkness,  so  they 
were  enabled  to  discover,  amid  the  murky  clouds 
•which  seemed  to  overhang  their  prospects,  some 
bright  indications  of  the  divine  favour,  which 
filled  them  with  holy  jo}^  and  afforded  them  the 
earnest  that  a  brighter  and  better  day  was  aSout 
to  dawn  upon  them,  and  that  they  should  yet 
see  the  glory  of  God  as  they  had  seen  it  in  the 
sanctuary,  an  denjoy  once  again,  not  only  tem- 
poral but  spiritual  prosperity. 


19 


218  THE   SALZBURGERS 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  arrival  of  a  pastor  anticipated — Solicitude  on  the  subject— 
The  Rev.  John  Earnest  Bergman  arrives  at  Ebenezer — His  early 
history — His  qualifications  for  the  ministry — State  of  afFaira 
at  Ebenezer  and  Savannah — Mr.  Bergman's  defects — Parochial 
schools — Mr.  Bernhardt — Mr.  Probst — Mr.  Ernst — Increase  of 
pastoral  labours — Church  in  Savannah — Letter  from  Mr.  Scheu- 
ber — Correct  views  of  the  sacraments — Usages  of  the  Lutheran 
Church — Mr.  Bergman's  marriage — His  family — Mr.  Bergman 
as  a  scholar — His  correspondence — Parsonage  at  Ebenezer — 
Bishop  Francis  Asbury — His  letter  to  Mr.  Bergman — Im- 
provement in  temporal  affairs — Bad  habits  among  the  Salzbur- 
gers — Want  of  church  discipline — Disafiection  toward  the 
church — Members  withdraw — Ebenezer  bridge — Ebenezer  be- 
comes the  county  site — Effects  of  this  measure — County  site 
changed  to  Springfield — The  mills — Demand  for  English 
preaching — Letter  from  Bishop  Asbury — Mistaken  policy — 
Methodists  in  Savannah — Obligations  of  the  Methodists  to  the 
Lutheran  Church — Rev.  Hope  Hull  —  Jonathan  Jackson — 
Josiah  Randle — John  Garvin — Rev.  S.  Dunwoody — First  Me- 
thodist Society  in  Savannah — Mr.  Bergman  relinquishes  the 
church  in  Savannah — Letter  to  Rev.  H.  Holcombe — Savannah 
church  without  a  pastor — Rev.  S.  A.  Mealj- — Salzburgers  in 
other  churches — Jesse  Lee  visits  Ebenezer — Mr.  Bergman  cur- 
tails his  labours— "  Bethel"  church  erected — Personal  difficulty 
— Letter  of  Rev.  J.  McVean — Efforts  to  proselyte — Lax  state 
of  morals — Want  of  discipline — Mr.  Bergman's  grief  at  the 
condition  of  the  colony — External  prosperity — Spiritual  declen- 
sion— Death  of  Mrs.  Neidlinger — Mr.  Bergman's  health  declines 
— His  death. 

The  Salzburgers,  particularly  the  pious  por- 
tion of  them,   received  with  great  satisfaction 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  219 


the  intelligence  that  their  brethren  in  Germany 
"were  interesting  themselves  on  their  behalf,  and 
they  hailed  with  great  enthusiasm  the  prospect 
of  being  soon  favoured  with  the  services  of  a 
devoted  and  well-qualified  pastor.  The  news  of 
his  appointment  had  reached  them  through  the 
letter  of  Dr.  S.  Urlsperger  to  the  wardens  and 
elders  of  the  church,  and  they  awaited  his  arri- 
val with  great  anxiety  ;  and  yet  their  wishes  on 
his  behalf  were  not  unmingled  with  deep  solici- 
tude. Although  they  had  the  fullest  confidence 
in  the  wisdom  and  prudence  of  their  German 
benefactors,  their  sad  experience  in  the  case  of 
Mr.  Triebner  had  justly  excited  their  fears,  lest 
the  newly-appointed  minister  should  disappoint 
their  expectations.  There  is  always  one  inevit- 
able and  painful  result  growing  out  of  the  im- 
proper conduct  of  ministers  :  it  excites  suspicion 
against  the  innocent ;  and  where  a  pastor  has 
proven  himself  unworthy  of  the  confidence  of 
a  church,  his  successor  will  always  be  regarded 
with  mistrust,  until  he  has  established  his  claims 
to  the  esteem  and  respect  of  his  people  by  his 
unimpeachable  deportment.  This,  however,  a 
truly  pious  minister  will  soon  accomplish;  for 
although  men  are  sometimes  slow  in  yielding 
their  prejudices,  true  merit  and  integrity  of 
character  will  dispel  all  doubts  and  evil  surmis- 
ing, and  win  the  respect  and  love  of  the  virtuous. 
At  length  the  wishes  and  prayers  of  the  Salz- 


220  THE  salzeurgehs 


burgers  ^vere  ans-wered  by  the  appearance  of 
their  new  pastor.  The  person  sent  over  by 
the  directors  in  Germany  was  the  Rev.  JoHX 
Ernest  Bergman,  a  young  man  of  decided 
talents  and  extensive  literary  acquirements. 
Mr.  Bergman  'was  a  native  of  Peritsch,  in 
Saxony.  In  1776,  he  entered  the  university 
at  Leipsic,  where  he  was  graduated  with  distin- 
guished honour.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Evan- 
gelical Seniors  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  the 
Duchy  of  Augsburg,  on  the  19th  of  July,  1783. 
This  was  once  Protestant  territory,  but  was 
surrendered  by  Prussia,  and  came  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  Bavaria. 

It  has  not  been  ascertained  from  what  posi- 
tion he  was  called  when  he  was  chosen  pastor  at 
Ebenezer;  this,  however,  is  not  important.  He 
arrived  in  Georgia  in  the  spring  of  1785,  and 
entered  zealously  and  actively  upon  the  dis- 
charge of  his  duties.  These  he  was  to  find 
numerous  and  arduous,  and  often  a  source  of 
deep  anxiety  and  perplexity. 

Mr.  Bergman  found  both  the  temporal  and 
spiritual  affairs  of  the  Salzburgers  in  a  very 
unfavourable  condition.  The  town  of  Ebenezer 
had  been  almost  entirely  deserted  during  the 
war,  and  many  of  the  settlements  were  nearly 
broken  up.  The  people,  therefore,  had  to  com- 
mence life  almost  anew;  and,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  their  pecuniary  circumstances  were  very 


AND    THEIR   DESCEXDAXTS.  221 


much  embarrassed.  Besides  this,  the  whole  con- 
gregation had  been  in  a  great  measure  scattered ; 
their  records  were  either  lost  or  very  much  muti- 
lated ;  the  members  had  not  only  greatly  declined, 
but  many  of  them  had  entirely  departed  from 
their  Christian  profession.  This  was  not  only 
true  of  the  congregations  in  and  about  Eben- 
ezer ;  it  was  equally  so  in  relation  to  the  Salz- 
burgers  in  Savannah.  Mr.  Bergman  was  greatly 
grieved  at  the  desolation  which  met  his  eye 
on  every  side,  and  at  times  he  was  well-nigh 
giving  up  in  despair  all  hopes  of  restoring  order 
and  organizing  the  churches  upon  a  permanent 
footing. 

He  possessed,  however,  many  requisites  for 
the  arduous  work  which  was  before  him,  though 
in  some  respects  he  was  deficient.  He  was 
young,  and  though  not  endowed  with  a  vigorous 
constitution,  yet  he  was  a  man  of  energy  and 
great  industry.  Besides,  he  possessed  more 
than  ordinary  intellect,  which  he  had  cultivated 
with  great  assiduity.  It  is  questionable  whether, 
in  point  of  learning,  he  was  equalled  by  either 
of  his  predecessors ;  and  the  manuscripts  he  exe- 
cuted bear  ample  testimony  to  his  extensive  ac- 
quirements and  untiring  diligence  in  the  acquisi- 
tion of  knowledge.  As  a  pulpit  orator  he  is 
said  to  have  been  above  mediocrity,  and  always 
commanded  the  attention  and  respect  of  his 
hearers.  He  lacked,  however,  one  very  import- 
19* 


•     222  THE   SALZBtJKGEKS 


ant  ingredient  in  the  character  of  a  minister,  to 
make  him  successful.  He  had  7io  hnoivUdge  of 
men  and  things.  In  other  words,  he  was  a  per- 
fect novice  in  all  matters  of  business,  and  seemed 
not  disposed  to  cultivate  any  intercourse  with 
society,  except  in  as  far  as  he  was  forced  to  do 
so  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty.  In  his  feelings 
he  was  too  exclusive,  and  did  not  mingle  enough 
with  society  to  qualify  him  for  very  extensive 
usefulness.  His  books  were  his  companions,  and 
he  sought  his  chief  enjoyment  in  the  retirement 
of  his  study. 

Under  these  circumstances,  it  was  not  to  be 
expected  that  Mr.  Bergman  would  achieve  as 
much  for  the  Salzburgers  as  he  might  have  done, 
if  his  disposition  had  led  him  to  cultivate  a  freer 
intercourse  with  his  parishioners.  Still  he  was 
instrumental  in  effecting  much,  especially  for 
the  spiritual  improvement  of  the  people. 

Mr.  Bergman,  among  other  measures,  endea- 
voured to  revive  the  parochial  school  at  Eben- 
ezer.  A  young  man  by  the  name  of  Bernhardt 
was  sent  over  from  Germany  as  a  teacher, 
but  owing  to  his  levity  of  disposition  and  in- 
subordination, he  gave  Mr.  Bergman  a  great 
deal  of  trouble.  Mr.  Bernhardt  was  in  a  year 
or  two  dismissed,  and  Mr.  Probst  was  appointed 
as  his  successor.  Mr.  Probst  occupied  this  posi- 
tion until  1796,  when  Mr.  G.  Ernst  became  the 
teacher.     With   him    terminated   the  i?arocliial 


AKD   THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  223 


school,  although  private  schools  were  subse- 
quently taught  at  Ebcnczer. 

Mr.  Bernhardt  removed  to  Carolina,  where  he 
was  converted,  and  subsequently  became  a  useful 
minister  in  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  was  the 
father  of  the  late  Rev.  David  Bernhardt  of  the 
South  Carolina  Synod,  whose  memory  will  long 
be  cherished  by  the  church  and  all  who  knew 
him. 

The  ministerial  labours  of  Mr.  Bergman  were 
much  more  arduous  than  those  of  his  predeces- 
sors. It  will  be  remembered,  that  up  to  the 
Revolutionary  War,  the  Salzburgers  had  always 
had  two,  and  in  some  instances  three,  pastors. 
But  the  pecuniary  affairs  of  the  congregation 
becoming  somewhat  deranged,  and  the  "  Society 
for  Propagating  Christian  Knowledge"  having 
withdrawn  its  aid,  the  funds  were  found  insuffi- 
cient to  maintain  more  than  one  minister.  It 
was  thus  made  the  duty  of  Mr.  Bergman  to  cul- 
tivate, as  far  as  practicable,  this  field,  which  at 
one  time  gave  full  employment  to  not  less  than 
two  pastors.  He  was,  however,  not  discouraged, 
either  by  the  extent  of  the  field  before  him,  or 
the  demand  upon  his  mental  and  physical  ener- 
gies. He  immediately  entered  upon  a  systematic 
arrangement  of  his  labours,  by  which  he  hoped 
to  be  able  to  supply  not  only  the  churches  in 
and  about  Ebenezer,  but  also  the  one  in  the  city 
of    Savannah.     In    a   very  short   time  he  was 


224  THE   SALZDURGERS 


enabled  to  furnish  all  these  churches  with  regular 
preaching,  apportioning  his  time  between  them 
as  equally  as  circumstances  would  permit. 

The  congregation  in  Savannah,  though  much 
injured  by  the  war,  kept  up  its  organization,  and 
some  of  its  members  appear  to  have  been  de- 
votedly pious  men.  By  a  portion  of  this  con- 
gregation Mr.  Bergman's  labours  were  highly 
appreciated,  and  for  a  time  he  was  instrumental 
in  affecting  much  good  among  them.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1786,  he  communicated  to  the  elders  of  the 
church  in  Savannah  his  intention  to  visit  them 
and  administer  the  Lord's  Supper.  The  follow- 
ing letter,  written  to  him  in  reply  by  one  of  the 
elders,  will  be  read  with  interest : 

"Savannah,  December  29,  17S6. 

Dear  Sir  : — In  a  letter  of  the  26th  inst.,  I  understood 
that  if  it  suited  the  German  congregation  in  Savannah, 
you  intended  to  come  down  and  celebrate  the  Sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper  on  Sunday,  the  7th  of  January.  In 
consequence  of  such  intimation,  I  acquainted  the  elders 
and  wardens,  who,  with  one  voice,  acquiesced  in  it,  and 
agreeably  to  their  resolution  gave  notice,  in  yesterday's 
letter,  to  Mr.  Probst.  But  this  day,  several  other  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation,  not  being  properly  prepared  for 
so  solemn  an  act  in  religion,  wish  beforehand  to  hear  a 
few  sermons  tending  toward  this  object,  in  order  to  pre- 
pare themselves  more  fully  for  this  sacred  duty;  and 
consequently  they  prefer  to  postpone  receiving  the  Lord's 
Supper  until  Easter,  or  thereabouts. 

In  the  mean  time,  reverend  sir,  you  are  expected  on 
Saturday,  the  6th  of  January  next,  to  give  the  congrega- 
tion a  forenoon  sermon  on  repentance,  and  Mr.  Probst, 


AND   TIIEin    DKSCKNDANTS.  225 


■who,  if  he  should  fail  in  his  appointment  at  Ebcnezer, 
may  give  a  sermon  in  the  afternoon ;  and  if  his  oration  is 
liked  by  the  congregation,  uiav  perhaps  prove  him  an 
establishment  in  this  place,  in  case  he  should  be  disap- 
pointed with  you.  There  vill  be  on  the  Sunday  appointed 
a  full  congregation,  if  the  weather  permit.  God  grant 
you  may  be  satisfied  with  your  appointment,  and  the  con- 
gregation with  you,  in  which  I  hope  you  will  not  fail ; 
and  in  that  case  you  might  even  enjoy  a  heaven  on  earth. 
You  have  my  best  wishes  for  your  welfare  and  happi- 
ness, and  I  have  the  honour,  for  the  first  time,  to  sub- 
scribe myself  with  sincere  regard  and  profound  respect, 
your  most  humble  servant, 

Justus  II.  Sciieuber/' 


From  this  letter  it  "svili  be  seen  that  the 
church  in  Savannah  was  duly  organized  in  the 
year  1787,  having  a  full  board  of  elders  and 
wardens.  It  is  further  manifest  that  there  must 
have  been  a  favourable  state  of  religious  feeling 
among  the  members,  as  evinced  by  the  holy 
reverence  which  they  seemed  to  cherish  for  the 
ordinances  of  God's  house,  and  their  unwilling- 
ness to  partake  of  those  ordinances  except  after 
due  meditation  and  self-examination.  This  speaks 
well,  at  least,  for  the  devotional  feelings  of  a 
congregation ;  and  when  such  sentiments  are 
cherished,  they  cannot  fail  to  produce  the  most 
salutary  influence  upon  the  character  and  life. 
This  is  a  peculiarity  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  arises  from  the  wise  and  wholesome  usages 
which  the  founders  of  Lutheranism  established 
both  in  Europe  and  America.     The  course  of 


226  THE    SALZBURGERS 


catechetical  instruction  prescribed  by  our  ritual, 
and  the  preparatory  services  which  are  held  in 
our  churches  prior  to  the  administration  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  are  admirably  calculated  to  in- 
spire the  heart  with  a  holy  veneration  for  that 
most  solemn  and  instructive  sacrament.  It  is 
to  be  regretted  that  some  of  our  churches  have 
manifested  a  disposition  to  depart  from  this 
ancient  landmark  of  Lutheranism. 

About  the  year  1792,  Mr.  Bergman  married 
Miss  Catherine  Herb,  sister  of  Mr.  Frederick 
Herb,  of  Savannah.  By  this  marriage  Mr. 
Bergman  had  four  children,  only  one  of  whom, 
his  eldest  son,  Christopher  F.,  survived  him. 
This,  for  him,  was  a  very  happy  and  advanta- 
geous union.  And  perhaps  much  of  his  success 
in  after  life  may  justly  be  attributed  to  the  in- 
fluence of  this  most  excellent  lady.  She  seems 
to  have  possessed  very  remarkable  business 
talents ;  and  it  is  said  that  her  husband  com- 
mitted to  her  the  entire  management  of  all  his 
domestic  matters,  even  giving  up  to  her  the 
receipt  and  disbursement  of  all  his  funds,  while 
he  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  his  literary 
pursuits.  These  were  very  extensive,  and  em- 
braced a  wide  field.  History,  philosophy,  the 
various  departments  of  natural  science,  classical 
literature,  all  engaged  his  attention,  and  in  each 
of  them  he  attained  to  very  considerable  profi- 
ciency.    As  a  thelogian,  he  was  especially  well 


AXD   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  227 


read,  having  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
the  Hebrew,  Arabic,  and  several'  other  oriental 
languages.  His  correspondence,  too,  was  very 
extensive,  and  he  was  honoured  with  the  confi- 
dence of  some  of  the  most  remarkable  men  of 
his  day ;  among  whom,  w^re  Bishop  Asbury, 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church ;  Dr.  R. 
Furman,  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  in 
Charleston ;  the  Hon.  R.  Wayne,  and  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Holcombe,  McVean  and  others,  of  Sa- 
vannah. 

His  home  at  Ebenezer  was  the  receptacle  of 
every  preacher  who  might  chance  to  visit  that 
neighbourhood ;  and  in  his  Christian  intercourse 
with  his  ministerial  brethren  of  other  denomina- 
tions, he  seems  to  have  won  their  confidence  and 
Christian  regard.  Bishop  Asbury,  on  several 
occasions,  sojourned  at  the  parsonage  at  Eben- 
ezer, and  between  him  and  Mr.  Bergman  there 
existed  the  warmest  Christian  affection;  and  the 
good  bishop  held  Mr.  Bergman  in  such  high  re- 
gard that  he  honoured  him  with  his  correspond- 
ence.    The  following  letter  is  in  point. 

"  Wilkea  county,  Georgia,  December  5,  1800. 
"My  Dear  and  Greatly  Respected  Friexd: — Grace, 
mercy,  and  peace  be  multiplied  to  you  and  family. 
When  I  come  to  Georgia,  I  remember  you  if  I  do  not  sec 
you.  For  a  few  years  paet  I  have  not  been  able  to  preach 
or  write  as  formerly.  Shall  I  pity  or  envy  you  in  your 
solitary  life.  It  must  cheer  up  your  mind  to  converse 
with  a  friend  on  paper.     I  thank  you,  kind  sir,  for  the 


228  Tin-:  sAi.zBVRGEr.s 


friendly  letters  you  have  sent  me,  and  the  notice  you 
have  taken  of  Elder  Lee.  This  year  hath  been  marked 
with  divine  glory;  my  colleague,  Bishop  Whatcoat,  and 
self  have  travelled  from  Baltimore,  in  the  month  of  May 
last,  to  the  east  of  Boston,  -west  as  far  as  Kentucky  and 
Cumberland  in  Tennessee,  South  Carolina,  to  this  State, 
making  near  three  thousand  miles  from  the  General  Con- 
ference. The  revival  of  religion  that  began  with  the 
year,  became  very  great ;  so  that  the  eastern  and  western 
shores  of  Maryland,  Delaware,  and  Pennsylvania,  have 
felt  the  holy  flame ;  the  high  probability  is,  that  one 
or  two  thousand  souls  have  been  under  the  operations 
of  grace.  The  preachers  caught  the  divine  influence  at 
the  General  Conference,  where  more  than  one  hundred 
ministers  assembled,  and  thus  it  ran,  two,  three,  four,  five 
hundred  miles.  You  have  heard  of  the  revival  of  religion 
among  the  Germans  in  the  west  of  Pennsylvania,  Mary- 
land, and  Virginia,  by  the  instrumentality  of  the  vener- 
able Otterbein,*  and  an  ancient  patriarchal  man,  Martin 
Beem,  once  a  Menonist  minister;  but  he  received  the 
Methodists  about  twenty  years  ago.  He  was  cast  out 
by  the  Menonist.  God  has  given  him  to  see  his  child- 
ren's children  brought  to  Christ,  and  peace  upon  Israel. 
At  seventy,  he  is  brisk  as  a  boy,  and  travels  very  exten- 
sively ;  for  in  appearance  he  is  like  old  Moses  or  Aaron 
with  his  long  beard.  Oh !  my  dear  friend,  if  you  was  among 
the  thousands  in  Pennsylvania  of  Germans  to  labour, 
and  travelling  night  and  day,  you  might  have  a  happier 
soul  and  a  brighter  crown.  A  late  Dr.  Lodly  was  in 
some  part  of  Holland  almost  useless  ;  he  was  sent  for  to 
New  York,  and  the  first  sermon  he  preached  in  the  Low 
Dutch  Church,  Madam  Livingston,  and  several  reputable 
women  were  convinced.  They  said  it  was  like  a  new 
gospel ;  he  continued  in  usefulness  till  the  Revolutionary 
War ;  then  he  was  forced  to  retire,  when  his  labours  were 
lost  as  at  the  first.    I  was  told  he  had  intimations  of  what 

*  Mr.  Otterbein  was  a  very  pious  minister  of  the  German  Re- 
formed Church. 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  229 


was  to  befall  liim  in  both  changes.  Tims  a  "Wesiev,  and 
some  of  the  Moravian  l)rethren  appeared  to  be  buried  for  a 
time  at  and  about  Savannah.  And  some  godly  men  have 
lived  in  pari&hes  and  congregations  in  England,  with 
small  prospects  of  good.  Before  I  close  this  letter  I  must 
give  you  a  sketch  of  the  marvellous  work  of  God.  For 
two  weeks,  we  trust  one  or  two  hundred  souls  were 
wrought  upon  at  the  General  Conference  in  Baltimore. 
At  the  yearly  Conference  at  Duck  creek,  Delaware  State, 
one  hundred  and  seventeen  came  forward  to  join  the 
church, — the  fruit  of  four  days'  and  nights'  labour.  The 
brethren  did  not  leave  the  house  of  God  day  nor  night; 
this  was  in  a  small  village,  and  fifty  had  been  added  pre- 
viously, since  the  commencement  of  the  year.  The  re- 
turn was  three  hundred  in  society,  as  made  last  June  to 
me ;  and  the  work  is  spreading  all  around  that  place, 
through  the  whole  peninsula  of  Maryland  and  Delaware. 
AVe  have  travelled  so  rapidly  and  extensively,  letters 
could  not  reach  us  well,  till  we  came  to  our  yearly  con- 
ference in  Camden,  South  Carolina,  January  1,  1801.  In 
Cumberland,  State  of  Tennessee,  God  has  wrought  among 
the  Presbyterians  ;  five  godly  ministers  are  entered  into 
the  spirit  of  the  work, — a  Mr.  Craighead,  Hodge,  Ran- 
kin, Mr.  Goady,  and  McGee,  and  the  stationed  preachers 
among  the  Methodists,  and  some  eminent  local  preachers. 
Judah  doth  not  vex  Ephraim;  they  live  and  love  as 
brethren  ;  they  hold  sacramental  meetings  four  days  and 
nights,  all  the  ministers  present ;  it  is  in  the  woods ;  no 
house  will  contain  the  people,  wagons,  food,  fires,  some 
ten,  twenty,  thirty,  fifty,  and  one  hundred  miles  from 
home ;  they  begin  at  high  noon,  preach  and  pray  until 
evening,  then  retire  to  refresh  with  food  :  and  come  again, 
and  continue  the  whole  night,  and  souls  are  born  to  God 
at  the  solemn  hours  of  night, — seven,  eight,  nine,  ten, 
twelve,  one  o'clock,  till  morning.  It  hath  been  judged, 
that  the  congregation  have  contained  from  five  hundred, 
to  one  and  two  thousand  people,  and  eight  or  ten  minis- 
ters; and  at  a  meeting  Bishop  Whatcoat  and  myself 
attended,  near  twenty  ministers  present, — Presbyterians, 


230  THE   SALZBURGERS 


Methodists,  and  Baptists;  souls  have  professed  to  find 
the  Lord  from  twenty-five  to  forty-five,  and  as  many  as 
one  hundred  at  a  meeting.  The  probability  is  that 
between  three  and  four  hundred  have  been  brought  to 
Christ  in  the  course  of  this  summer  and  fall,  and  the 
work  was  going  on  when  we  came  from  the  settlement. 
The  ministers  promised  to  send  me  a  correct  account  of 
the  work  of  God.  We  hope  to  be  able  to  publish  the 
workings  of  God  with  souls.  I  hope  and  trust  five  or  six 
thousand  souls  are,  and  will  be  formed  of  God  on  this 
continent  in  1800,  among  the  different  societies  of  pro- 
fessing Christians.  I  shall  make  no  apology  for  my  long 
letters,  but  the  cause  of  God,  love  to  you,  and  my  joy 
that  I  have  to  hear  and  see  my  poor  labours  are  not  in 
vain,  and  other  ministers,  and  other  societies  have  Jeho- 
vah with  them.  I  am  in  the  thirtieth  year  of  my  labours 
in  America,  besides  about  nine  years  in  travelling  and 
local  labours  in  England. 

"I  am,  with  great  respect,  yours  in  Christ, 

Fraxcis  AsBURlV 

The  temporal  affairs  of  the  Salzburgers  com- 
menced improving  gradually;  and  the  popula- 
tion which,  during  the  war,  had  been  somewhat 
diminished,  began  to  increase  steadily,  and  to 
assume  a  somewhat  more  permanent  character. 
Their  spiritual  interests,  too,  assumed  a  more 
favourable  aspect,  though  Mr.  Bergman  found 
many  just  causes  of  complaint.  Some  of  the 
members  of  the  church  had  fallen  into  rather 
loose  habits  of  living,  and  the  establishment  of 
one  or  two  drinking  shops  at  Ebenezer,  exerted 
a  most  injurious  influence  upon  the  morals  of  not 
a  few.  Mr.  Bero;man  remonstrated  against  such 
conduct,  but  he  was,  perhaps,  rather  two  mild 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  281 


and  lenient  in  the  enforcement  of  the  church 
discipline,  to  effect  much  of  a  reformation.  Still 
the  church  made  some  progress,  while  it  must 
be  admitted  that  the  tone  of  piety  was  far  below 
what  it  had  been  in  former  years. 

Mr.  Bergman  kept  up  a  regular  course  of 
catechetical  instruction  in  all  his  churches,  and 
endeavoured  to  indoctrine  the  young  people  of 
his  charge  in  the  principles  of  our  holy  religion, 
as  taught  in  our  standards;  and  there  were 
many,  wh^,  under  his  instructions,  became  de- 
votedly pious  and  exemplary  Christians.  But 
even  in  his  time,  a  spirit  of  indifference  to  the 
Lutheran  church  began  to  manifest  itself  among 
some  of  the  descendants  of  the  Salzburgers, 
which  was  afterwards  to  result  in  the  withdrawal 
of  not  a  few  of  them  from  the  church  of  their 
fathers.  It  will  be  necessar}^,  however,  to  dwell 
more  at  large  upon  this  topic  hereafter. 

It  is  not  deemed  important,  nor  would  it  be 
practicable,  to  attempt  a  regular  chronological 
history  of  the  Salzburgers  from  this  period, 
nor,  indeed,  is  it  necessary ;  for  there  were  not 
many  occurrences  of  striking  interest  during  the 
life-time  of  Mr.  Bergman.  The  most  prominent, 
however,  will  be  noted  as  far  as  reliable  data 
can  be  obtained.  After  a  settlement  assumes  a 
permanent  character,  it  is  not  to  be  expected 
that  many  incidents  will  happen  of  sufficient 
moment  to  make  them  worthy  of  historical  re- 


232  THE    SALZBURGEKS 


cord.  The  reader  will,  therefore,  not  expect 
any  thing  like  detailed  narrative  in  the  further 
prosecution  of  this  work. 

It  has  been  stated  that  Mr.  Bergman  was  in 
correspondence  with  a  number  of  distinguished 
ministers  and  other  gentlemen,  and  some  of  their 
letters  are  extant ;  but  their  publication  would 
only  swell  this  volume  without  increasing  its 
interest.  It  might  be  mentioned  that  many  of 
these  letters  furnish  intelligence  in  reference  to 
the  progress  of  religion  in  different  pftrts  of  the 
United  States,  and  perhaps  a  few  extracts  may 
be  given  from  some  of  them  hereafter. 

Mention  has  been  made  of  the  erection  of  a 
bridge  over  Ebenezer  creek,  and  the  making 
of  a  causeway  through  the  swamp.  The  first 
bridge,  however,  was  a  very  humble  and  unpre- 
tending structure,  and  answered  only  a  tempo- 
rary purpose.  Mr.  King,  who  owned  most  of 
the  land  north  of  Ebenezer  creek,  applied  to 
the  Legislature,  in  1791,  for  a  charter  for  a 
causeway  and  toll  bridge.  The  charter  covered 
a  period  of  tliirty  years.  In  1824,  (24th  of 
April)  the  Trustees  of  the  Lutheran  church 
purchased,  at  public  sale,  Mr.  King's  interest, 
which  was  for  the  unexpired  term  of  nine  years, 
for  the  sum  of  eighteen  hundred  dollars.  With 
the  bridge  the  Trustees  obtained  sixty-five  acres 
of  land.  A  new  bridge  was  erected  by  Messrs. 
William  and  Lewis  Bird,  in  the  fall  of  the  same 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  233 


year,  at  a  cost  of  four  hundred  and  ninety-nine 
dollars.  The  Trustees  obtained  a  renewal  of 
the  charter  in  1824  for  tliirty  years.  Mr.  C.  F. 
Bergman,  in  a  note  in  his  journal,  estimated 
that  the  income  from  the  bridge  for  nine  years 
would  amount  to  about  five  thousand  dollars. 
Whether  or  not  this  expectation  was  realized,  it 
would  be  difficult  to  ascertain ;  though  it  is 
certain,  that  the  Trustees  did  realize  at  first  a 
handsome  profit  upon  the  investment.  Within 
the  last  fifteen  years,  however,  the  bridge  and 
causeway  have  been  rather  a  tax  upon  the 
church,  as  the  inferior  court  of  Effingham  county 
authorized  the  opening  of  a  public  road  from 
Sister's  Ferry,  on  the  Savannah  river,  by  way 
of  Springfield,  on  to  the  city  of  Savanna,h.  This 
measure  has  cut  off  nearly  all  the  travel  from 
the  old  Augusta  road,  and  the  toll-gate  does 
not  now  pay  expenses. 

In  1796,  Ebenezer  was  made  the  county  site, 
and  the  Legislature  appointed  commissioners  to 
select  lots  for  the  court-house  and  jail,  and  also 
to  provide  for  the  support  of  an  academy. 
This  academy  was  intended  as  a  county  in- 
stitution. There  was  already  a  parochial  school 
at  Ebenezer,  under  the  care  of  a  competent 
teacher.  The  instructions,  however,  were  given 
almost  exclusively  in  the  German,  and  did  not 
meet  the  wants  of  the  community,  which  even 
at  this  time  had  become  measurably  Anglicized. 

20- 


234  THE   SALZBURGERS 


The  selection  of  Ebenezer  as  the  county  site 
was  the  second  experiment  to  procure  a  suitable 
location.  The  public  buildings  were  erected  at 
Tuckasee-King,  in  1784,  near  the  present  line 
of  Scriven  county;  but  as  this  movement  did  not 
suit  the  wishes  of  the  people,  Ebenezer  was 
selected.  It  would  have  been  well  for  the  Salz- 
burgers  if  their  town  had  never  been  made  the 
seat  of  justice.  There  are  ahvays  men  of  de- 
based morals  collecting  at  a  county  site,  who 
drink,  gamble,  and  indulge  in  almost  every 
species  of  vice ;  and  these  influences  did  not  fail 
to  eifect  the  Salzburgers,  some  of  whom  were, 
alas !  too  easily  seduced  from  the  right  way. 
Fortunately  for  them,  however,  Ebenezer  was 
found  to  be  not  sufficiently  central ;  and,  in  1799, 
Springfield  Avas  made  the  county  site,  and  con- 
tinues so  to  this  day. 

It  has  been  stated,  that  during  the  life-time 
of  the  first  pastors,  mills  had  been  erected,  and 
several  tracts  of  land  were  granted  for  the 
benefit  of  the  church.  During  the  war,  nearly 
all  these  "mill  establishments"  were  materially 
injured,  and  they  subsequently  were  allowed  to 
go  to  decay.  In  1808,  the  congregation  applied 
to  the  legislature  for  leave  to  sell  their  glebe 
land.  This  request  was  granted,  and  the  pro- 
ceeds were  placed  in  the  treasury  of  the  church. 
The  congregation  by  degrees  disposed  of  all  its 
real  estate,  and  the  money  was  invested  in  bonds 


AND   THEIR  DESCENDANTS.  235 


and  mortgages,  from  the  interest  of  ^vhich  the 
pastor's  salary,  and  the  current  expenses  of  the 
church  were  paid.  This  plan  is  pursued  to  the 
present  day. 

The  interests  of  the  churches,  both  at  Eben- 
ezer  and  Savannah,  began  to  demand  that  a 
portion  of  the  services  should  be  held  in  English. 
Many  friends  of  the  Lutheran  church  saw  this, 
and  felt  it,  and  urged  upon  Mr.  Bergman  the 
importance  of  attempting  to  qualify  himself  to 
preach  in  that  language ;  but  it  was  with  great 
difficulty  that  he  could  at  first  be  brought  even 
to  consider  the  subject.  In  this  he  certainly 
acted  unwisely,  as  will  appear  hereafter.  An 
extract  is  here  given  from  a  letter  of  Bishop 
Asbury  to  Mr.  Bergman,  a  part  of  which  bears 
upon  this  very  subject.  The  letter  Avas  written 
from  Georgetown,  in  1803.  After  stating  the 
wonders  which  God  was  working  in  various  parts 
of  the  country  in  the  conversion  of  sinners,  the 
bishop  says : 

"  I  am  not  without  expectation  of  visiting  Savannah 
and  Ebenezer  next  December.  I  shall  take  an  assistant 
•with  me,  and,  if  I  could  find  a  decent  family,  that  had 
the  form  of  godliness,  with  -whom  I  could  lodge,  and  a 
house  to  preach  in,  we  would  perhaps  spend  a  week. 
But  I  shall  be  unwilling  to  preach  in  Cloud's  or  the  Bap- 
tist church.  If  you  have  a  church  in  town,  I  would  bor- 
row that.  I  am  sorry  you  do  not  attend  some  of  the 
camp-meetings.  Our  yearly  conference  will  be  held  in 
Augusta,  January  1,  1804.  There  I  hope  to  see  you. 
I  think  as  you  are  not  advanced  in  age,  if  you  loish  to  he 


286  THE   SALZBURGERS 


extensively  useful,  you  ought  by  all  means  to  leant  English 
to  preach,  as  icell  as  to  write.  By  close  application  and  some 
little  assistance,  you  would  soon  gain  a  good  accent  and 
pronunciation.  In  learning  to  preach  English  you  icill 
open  a  door  to  preach  to  thousands  in  this  country;  besides 
you  tcill  get  good  as  icell  do  good.  I  hope  that  you  have  a 
clear  witness  of  your  redemption  in  Christ,  and  that  you 
^valk  closely  with  God,  and  are  seeking  freedom  from  all 
sin.  When  I  read  in  Mr.  Wesley's  journal,  of  the  holy 
men  once  at  Ebenezer,  I  hope  you  will  be  their  faithful 
successor.  Oh !  may  the  good  will  of  Him  that  dwelt 
with  Moses  in  the  bush  be  with  you,  and  the  dew  of 
heaven  upon  your  dwelling-place. 

"I  am,  as  ever,  your  friend  and  brother. 

Francis  Asbury.'^ 

From  this  letter  it  will  appear  that  good  men 
in  other  denominations,  who  really  wished  well 
to  the  Lutheran  church,  saw  that  our  ministers, 
who  persisted  in  adhering  to  the  German  lan- 
guage, pursued  a  ruinous  policy,  while  they  cir- 
cumscribed greatly  the  sphere  of  their  own  use- 
fulness. Would  to  God,  that  our  forefathers 
could  have  been  truly  wise  on  this  subject.  It 
will  also  be  seen,  that  up  to  this  date  the  Me- 
thodist's had  no  church  in  the  city  of  Savannah, 
and  Bishop  Asbury  asked  the  use  of  the  Luthe- 
ran church.  This  is  a  fact  worthy  of  notice. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  the  use  of  the  church 
was  cheerfully  granted,  and  thus,  as  Lutheran 
emigrants  from  Salzburg  were  measurably  the 
instruments  in  Mr.  Wesley's  awakening,  and 
Luther's  preface  to  the  Romans  the  means  of 
his  conversion,  the  Lutheran  church  in  Savannah 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  237 


•was  employed  by  the  first  Methodist  bishop 
in  America  to  promulgate  the  doctrines  of  the 
venerable  "Wesley.  From  all  this  it  is  apparent 
that  Methodism  owes  many  obligations  to  the 
Lutheran  church,  -which  it  is  to  be  regretted 
have  not  always  been  duly  remembered  and 
reciprocated. 

It  is  proper  here  to  remark,  that  as  early  as 
1790,  the  Rev.  Hope  Hull  was  sent  to  Savan- 
nah to  propagate  the  doctrines  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  preached  a  few  years  in 
a  chair-maker's  shop  belonging  to  Mr.  Lowry; 
but,  in  consequence  of  the  violent  opposition 
raised  against  him,  he  met  with  very  little  suc- 
cess. In  1796,  Jonathan  Jackson  and  Josiali 
Ran  die  made  another  attempt,  without  any  bet- 
ter results.  In  1800,  John  Garvin  commenced 
preaching.  He  induced  a  few  persons  to  attend 
his  meeting,  but  never  succeeded  in  organizing 
a  society.  The  next  attempt  was  by  Mr. 
Cloud,  wdiose  extravagances  increased  the  preju- 
dices against  the  Methodist ;  and  it  is  probable 
that  it  is  to  this  ]Mr.  "Cloud's  house"  that 
Bishop  Asbury  refers  in  the  foregoing  letter. 
In  1806,  Rev.  Samuel  Dunwoody  was  sent  to 
Savannah.  By  assiduous  effort  he  organized  a 
society,  and  the  members  after  many  severe 
trials  succeeded  in  erecting  a  small  house  of 
worship,  which  was  called  Wesley  Chapel.  This 
was  the  origin  of  Methodism  in  Savannah. 


238  THE   SALZBURGERS 


Nothing  of  much  importance  occurred  among 
the  Salzburgers  until  about  the  year  1804,  when 
Mr.  Bergman  relinquished  the  charge  of  the 
Lutheran  church  in  Savannah.  In  a  letter  writ- 
ten to  the  Kev.  Mr.  Holcombe,  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  church  in  that  city,  he  assigns  the  rea- 
sons which  had  induced  him  to  take  this  step. 
The  letter  is  dated  July  4,  1804.  In  that  letter 
he  says :  "  In  Germany  both  Protestant  churches 
(Lutheran  and  Reformed)  have  become  measur- 
ably corrupt,  through  false  teachers  creeping 
into  the  church,  whose  bad  qualities  are  de- 
scribed in  Paul's  letter  to  Timothy,  and  in  the 
Epistle  of  Peter.  These  teachers  impiously 
deny  all  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  our  sal- 
vation, which  is  in  Jesus  Christ.  The  Germans 
who  have  come  to  this  country  in  late  years 
have  imbibed  these  false  principles,  and  cannot 
bear  sound  doctrine,  leading  also  a  perverse  life. 
Besides  this,  I  cannot  see  any  fruit  of  the  gospel 
preached  to  them ;  and  some  impious  men,  long- 
ing for  riches,  are  insolent  enough  to  impute  to 
me  motives  which  I  never  entertained.  Fur- 
ther, I  am  bound  to  stay  at  Ebenezer,  because 
my  frail  constitution  will  not  longer  endure  the 
fatigue  of  journeying  so  often  to  Savannah. 
Consequently,  when  I  visit  Savannah  hereafter, 
it  must  be  on  week-days." 

In  another  letter  addressed  to  the  same  gen- 
tleman, Mr.  Bergman  remarks  :   "  I  have  not  (as 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDAXTS.  239 


has  been  falsely  charged)  denounced  good  morals 
or  external  religion,  as  it  is  termed.  I  agree 
with  the  good  Cardinal  Bellarmine,  who,  while  he 
apologizes  for  good  works,  concludes  that  it  is 
safest  and  best  to  put  all  our  confidence  in  God's 
grace  and  Christ's  merits.  And  when  I  pray 
that  I  may  be  numbered  among  God's  elect 
children,  I  desire  that  he  would  deal  with  me, 
not  according  to  my  nUrits^  but  according  to  his 
grace.  Yet  some  wicked  persons  whom  I  refused 
to  admit  to  the  Lord's  table,  have  accused  me 
of  advocating  Antinomian  sentiments.  And  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Salvinger,  who  resides  near 
the  'White  Bluff,'  defamed  my  name  in  the  Sa- 
vannah market,  as  did  also  one  Elliott,  once  a 
schoolmaster  at  White  Bluff,  and  afterward  at 
Goshen,  to  whom  I  refused  the  Lutheran  church 
at  Ebenezer.  The  whole  Lutheran  church  in 
America  needs  a  reformation.  There  are  many 
pious  people  in  Germany,  and  some  of  them 
come  occasionally  to  this  country,  but  for  the 
most  part  they  are  only  nominal  professors,  and 
4cannot  endure  sound  doctrine.  Hence  the 
trouble  in  many  of  our  German  churches." 

The  motives  which  prompted  this  step  were 
certainly  pure,  and  the  reasons  assigned  justify 
the  course  which  Mr.  Bergman  pursued.  It  is, 
however,  probable  that  he  did  occasionally  visit 
the  church  in  Savannah,  and  perform  services 
for  the  benefit  of  the  few  pious  persons  who  still 


240  THE   SALZBUllGERS 


adhered  to  the  true  doctrines  of  the  Reformation. 
However,  as  the  services  were  all  held  in  Ger- 
man, the  young  people  belonging  to  the  congre- 
gation gradually  withdrew  to  attend  English 
preaching  in  other  churches,  and  in  a  few  years 
Mr.  Bergman  ceased  altogether  his  ministerial 
labours  in  Savannah,  and  the  Lutheran  church 
was  closed,  and  no  successful  attempt  was  made 
to  revive  the  congregation  until  the  year  1824, 
Avhen  the  Rev.  S.  A.  Mealy  of  Charleston, 
assumed  the  pastoral  charge, — not,  however, 
until  many  of  the  descendants  of  the  Salzbur- 
gers  had  been  induced  to  leave  the  church  of 
their  fathers,  and  connect  themselves  with  other 
Christian  denominations.  The  records  of  all  the 
Protestant  churches  in  Savannah  will  show  that 
much  of  the  most  valuable  material  from  which 
their  societies  were  organized,  was  of  Lutheran 
origin.  And  this  same  sad  story  must  be  told 
in  reference  to  the  Lutheran  population  in  every 
important  city  in  our  L^nion.  It  is,  however, 
far  better  that  these  precious  souls  should  find 
spiritual  pasture  somewhere,  and  be  made  th^ 
heirs  of  eternal  life,  than  that  they  should 
wander  about  without  a  spiritual  guide,  exposed 
to  the  wiles  of  Satan  and  the  craftiness  of  un- 
godly men. 

It  w^as  about  this  time  that  the  Rev.  Jesse 
Lee,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Methodism  in  the 
United  States,  visited  Ebenezer,  and  spent  a 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  241 


few  days  with  Mr.  Bergman.  The  interviews 
seem  to  have  proved  a  source  of  mutual  edifica- 
tion to  these  pious  men.  Mr.  Lee,  speaks  of  this 
visit  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Mr.  Aurelius  of 
New  York,  and  expresses  himself  as  having  been 
very  favourably  impressed  with  the  piety  and 
learning  of  Mr.  Bergman.  It  is  a  pleasing  fact, 
that  every  one  of  the  first  pastors  at  Ebenezer 
(Mr.  Triebner  only  excepted)  commanded  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  ministers  in  the 
other  evangelical  churches,  showing  very  clearly 
that  their  learning  and  irreproachable  Christian 
character  had  gained  for  them  a  most  enviable 
reputation  among  the  wise  and  good.  But  still, 
their  piety  and  learning  did  not  exempt  them 
from  the  attacks  of  the  vicious  and  profane ;  and, 
as  has  already  been  shown,  they  were  often 
made  the  objects  of  vituperation.  It  was,  how- 
ever, fortunate  for  them  that  they  were  sustained 
in  all  their  trials  by  a  consciousness  of  their  own 
integrity,  and  the  assurance  of  the  divine  appro- 
bation. These  are  ever  the  Christian's  chief 
solace  amid  the  reproaches  of  the  censorious, 
and  the  scofis  and  derisions  of  the  profligate  and 
worldly;  and  but  for  the  <' sweet  peace"  which 
the  soul  derives  from  a  sense  of  its  own  recti- 
tude, cheerless  indeed  would  the  path  of  the 
faithful  minister  as  he  mingles  with  the  cares 
and  perplexities  of  life.  But  amid  the  conflicts 
of  human  passion  which  meet  him  on  every  side. 


242  THE   SALZBURGERS 


and  the  buffetings  and  derisions  of  a  world  lying 
in  wickedness,  he  may  ever  and  anon  hear  the 
cheering  and  animating  voice  of  the  Saviour, 
«Lo!  I  am  with  you  always!"  "My  peace  I 
give  unto  you."  "Be  of  good  cheer!  I  have 
overcome  the  world."  Thus  he  passes  on 
through  life,  ever  reposing  his  confidence  in  the 
great  captain  of  his  salvation,  and  sustained  by 
the  hope  that  his  labours  and  toils  shall  termi- 
nate in  a  rich  and  glorious  reward,  which  shall 
amply  compensate  him  for  all  the  afflictions  inci- 
dent to  his  earthly  pilgrimage. 

The  labours  of  Mr.  Bergman  were  somewhat 
curtailed  by  relinquishing  the  charge  of  the 
Lutheran  church  in  Savannah ;  and  it  has  already 
been  stated,  that  the  church  called  Bethany 
had  been  in  a  good  measure  abandoned.  It  be- 
came necessary,  however,  to  erect  a  new  church 
near  "Jack's  branch,"  about  four  miles  northwest 
of  Springfield,  the  county  site.  This  church  was 
called  'i Bethel.''  It  was  demanded  by  the  emi- 
gration to  that  neighbourhood  of  a  number  of 
families  who  had  formerly  resided  near  Ebenezer, 
and  were  members  of  the  congregation  at  that 
place.  Yet  no  new  organization  was  attempted ; 
and,  even  to  this  day,  the  members  residing  near 
Bethel  continue  their  connection  with  the  parent- 
church  at  Ebenezer.  This  was  a  judicious  move- 
ment on  the  part  of  Mr.  Bergman,  as  it  was  the 
means  of  saving  to  the  Lutheran  church  many 


AND   THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  243 


families  who   might    otherwise    have    connected 
themselves  with  other  denominations. 

Among  the  diflSculties  connected  with  his 
labours,  Mr.  Bergman  mentions  several  of  a 
personal  character.  One  of  these  was  with  Co- 
lonel W.,  who  resided  near  Sister's  Ferry.  The 
nature  of  the  misunderstanding  is  not  stated, 
nor  is  it  necessary  at  this  late  day  to  attempt  to 
investigate  it.  Colonel  W.  had  been  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  was  a  man  of  in- 
fluence ;  hence,  Mr.  Bergman  was  troubled  be- 
cause of  the  rupture  which  had  taken  place,  and 
corresponded  with  the  Rev.  John  McVean  on 
the  subject.  BIr,  Mc  Vean  was  stationed  in  Sa- 
vannah as  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  An  extract  from  his  letter  to  Mr.  Berg- 
man on  this  subject  is  here  inserted,  to  show 
the  excellent  spirit  by  which  he  was  actuated. 
Besides,  it  contains  a  great  deal  of  wholesome 
Christian  advice,  which  it  would  be  well  for 
every  one  to  remember  and  practice.     He  says: 

"  I  am  truly  sorry  for  the  misunderstanding  between 
you  and  Colonel  "W.,  and  sincerely  wish  it  were  other- 
wise. I  know  it  is  painful  to  human  feelings  to  receivo 
injuries  from  the  quarter  from  whence  they  were  least 
expected ;  but  our  Saviour  suflfcred  in  the  same  way,  and 
good  men  often  do  and  may  expect  to  suffer.  May  I  be 
permitted  to  suggest  a  plan  of  reconciliation?  When  I 
do  so,  I  need  only  quote  Scripture  to  you,  without  any 
comment.  First,  'If  thy  brother  trespass  against  thee, 
go  and  tell  him  his  fault  between  him  and  thee  alone ; 
if  he  shall  hear  thee,  then  thou  hast  gained  thv  brother. 


244  THE   SALZBURGERS 


Matt.  xiii.  15  ;  v.  23.  Do,  my  dear  sir,  have  the  honour 
and  the  comfort  to  be  the  first  to  make  peace :  love  vrill 
conquer  the  stoutest.  Suppose  you  were  to  take  up  the 
cross  and  go  some  serene  and  clear  morning  and  break- 
fast with  Colonel  W.,  and  bind  and  tie  his  hands,  and 
feet,  and  heart,  and  tongue  with  cords  of  love  and  with 
pious  loving  conversation  and  admonition ;  this  will  do. 
This  method  I  am  certain  will  succeed,  and  under  its  in- 
fluence even  the  'lion  will  become  a  lamb.' 
**  Yours  in  Christian  love, 

John  McVean." 

It  is  believed  that  this  advice  was  taken,  and 
friendly  relations  wcjre  again  established  between 
these  parties. 

In  addition  to  the  sources  of  trouble  which 
have  already  been  stated,  one  which  was  very 
trying  to  his  feelings  was  the  disposition  mani- 
fested by  some  of  the  descendants  of  the  Salz- 
burgers  to  forsake  the  church  of  their  fathers. 
The  Methodists  and  Baptists  began  to  preach  in 
various  portions  of  Effingham  county;  and,  in 
several  instances,  members  were  drawn  off  from 
the  Lutheran  church,  who,  with  their  families, 
formed  a  nucleus  for  the  organization  of  other 
churches  differing  from  the  Lutheran,  if  not  in 
any  essential  doctrinal  views,  yet  in  their  uses 
and  form  of  church  government;  and  it  will 
appear  hereafter,  that,  but  for  the  material  which 
the  Salzburgers  furnished  to  the  other  denomi- 
nations which  have  sprung  up  in  Effingham 
county,  they  could  never  have  had  any  existence. 
This   is   true,  particularly,  in   relation   to   the 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  245 


Methodist  and  Baptist  churches,  and  it  is  a  fact 
susceptible  of  proof,  especially  in  relation  to 
the  Methodist  church,  that  their  very  best  mem- 
bers, both  as  to  piety  and  influence,  are  those 
•who  descended  from  the  Salzburgers.  Mr. 
Bergman  saw  the  course  which  things  were 
taking  in  this  respect,  and  he  might  have 
checked  it,  at  least  measurably,  by  introducing 
the  English  language  into  the  church  service, 
and  by  bestowing  a  little  more  attention  upon  the 
spiritual  wants  of  his  people ;  but,  with  all  his 
piety  and  learning,  his  views  were  not  sufficiently 
practical. 

There  was,  however,  another  cause  operating, 
to  produce  alienation  of  feeling  on  the  part  of 
those  who  felt  it  their  duty  to  cultivate  a  spirit 
of  genuine  piety ;  and  that  was  the  lax  state  of 
morals  in  which  many  of  the  members  indulged, 
and  the  want  of  proper  church  discipline.  The 
discipline  was  there,  but  it  was  a  dead  letter. 
Mr.  Bergman  either  did  not,  or  could  not  enforce 
it,  and  many  of  the  members  became  very  irregu- 
lar in  their  habits,  so  that  their  conduct  was  a 
just  cause  of  offence  to  the  more  godly  and  con- 
sistent part  of  the  congregation ;  and  many  were 
constrained  from  a  sense  of  duty  to  flee  from 
associations  which  they  felt  were  baneful,  and  to 
seek  others,  more  congenial  to  their  feelings,  and 
better  calculated  to  aid  them  in  the  cultivation 
of  their  hearts  and  the  fuller  development  of  the 


246  THE   SALZBURGERS 


Christian  character.  It  is  not  admitted  that 
such  a  course  of  conduct  is  justifiable  under  all 
circumstances,  and  should  not  be  adopted  except 
in  extreme  cases ;  and  only  after  every  means  has 
been  tried  to  effect  a  reformation.  Then  our 
own  safety  may  require  us  to  separate  ourselves 
from  those  ^'evil  communications"  -which  may 
tend  to  corrupt  our  religious  principles. 

The  state  of  the  churches  was  a  source  of 
deep  sorrow  to  Mr.  Bergman.  In  his  letters  to 
his  friends,  he  complained  of  the  fruitlessness 
of  his  labours,  and  seemed  wellnigh  to  despair  of 
ever  accomplishing  any  permanent  good.  His 
personal  piety  was  evidently  of  a  high  order,  and 
in  this  respect  he  was  well  calculated  to  be  a 
teacher  in  divine  things ;  but  still,  he  appears 
to  have  been  unable  to  wueld  that  moral  influence 
which  was  necessary  to  suppress  every  species 
of  vice  among  his  people,  and  induce  them  to 
aim  at  an  elevated  standard  of  piety. 

Thus  things  continued  to  progress  from  year 
to  year ;  and  though  the  outward  prosperity  of 
the  colony  was  increasing,  the  population  multi- 
plying, the  people  acquiring  wealth  and  seeking 
new  means  of  advancing  their  worldly  interests, 
yet  there  was  a  gradual  but  manifest  decline  in 
the  piety  of  many  of  the  Salzburgers,  so  that  the 
language  of  Jeremiah  to  Israel  might  very  justly 
be  applied  to  the  descendants  of  the  Salzburgers ; 
'^  Yet  I  planted  thee  a  noble  vine,  wholly  a  right 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  247 


seed;  how  then  art  thou  turned  into  the  de- 
generate plant  of  a  strange  vine  unto  me?"  Jer. 
ii.  21.  Nevertheless  God  had  not  left  himself 
"without  witnesses. 

In  the  midst  of  all  his  other  trials,  Mr.  Berg- 
man was  about  to  experience  a  heavy  bereave- 
ment, in  the  loss  of  his  only  daughter,  Ann 
Catharine,  consort  of  John  Neidlinger.  She 
was  born  January  1,  1795,  and  married  Sep- 
tember 18,  1814.  In  her  sixteenth  year  she 
made  a  profession  of  religion,  and  connected 
herself  with  the  Lutheran  congregation  at  Eben- 
ezer,  according  to  the  established  usages  of  the 
church.  Her  marriage  seems  not  to  have  been 
a  judicious  one,  and  proved  a  source  of  grief  to 
herself  and  her  family.  Her  death  occurred 
on  the  31st  of  January,  1819,  she  being  in  her 
twenty-fifth  year.  Her  brother  has  these  notes 
in  his  journal  in  reference  to  her  decease: 
"  When  her  mother  first  came  to  her,  she  said : 
*  Mother,  are  you  not  sorry  for  your  poor  child?' 
(alluding  to  her  bodily  suffering.)  She  con- 
tinued :  <  I  am  going  to  my  dear  Redeemer. 
My  Redeemer  will  have  mercy  on  me.  I  am 
quite  happy  and  easy,  my  Saviour  has  strength- 
ened me,  I  feel  not  the  least  pain.'  She  ex- 
pired without  a  sigh  or  a  groan,  calmly  com- 
mending her  spirit  into  the  hands  of  her  divine 
Saviour." 

This  sad  event  cast  quite  a  gloom  over  the 


248  THE   SALZBURGERS 


family,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  dispensa- 
tion was  sanctified  to  all  who  were  afilicted  by  it. 
A  few  years  subsequently  to  the  death  of  his 
daughter,  Mr.  Bergman  himself  was  removed 
from  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord.  This  occurred 
on  the  25th  of  February,  1824.  Mr.  Bergman 
had  served  the  congregation  at  Ebenezer  with 
great  faithfulness,  but  his  labours  seem  not  to 
have  been  duly  appreciated,  and  there  had 
evidently  been  a  retrograde  movement  in 'the 
congregation,  and  the  moral  and  religious  aspect 
of  the  colony  was  far  from  being  favourable. 
Yet  his  labours  Avere  not  in  vain.  God  gave  him 
many  seals  to  his  ministry,  some  of  whom  still 
live  to  bless  the  church  and  the  world  by  their 
pious  and  exemplary  deportment.  The  labourer 
was  gathered  to  his  reward  in  peace  and  holy 
triumph,  after  having  spent  tliirty-six  years  of 
unremitting  toil  in  the  Master's  vineyard.  His 
remains  were  buried  in  Ebenezer  Cemetery, 
and  there,  with  hundreds  of  the  pious  Salzbur- 
gers,  he  rests  in  hope  of  a  better  resurrection. 
<'  He  was  a  good  man  and  full  of  faith." 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  249 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Gloomy  prospects  at  Ebenezer — Rov.  C.  F.  Bergman — His  early  re- 
ligious sentiments — Calvinistic  tendency — Attends  the  Georgia 
Presbytery — Letter  to  Rev.  M.  Ranch — Conflicting  views — 
Becomes  a  member  of  Presbytery — Receives  a  call  to  St.  Mat- 
thew's Lutheran  Church — Dr.  J.  Bachman  visits  Savannah  and 
Ebenezer — Interview  and  correspondence  with  Mr.  Bergman — 
Mr.  Bergman  changes  his  views,  joins  South  Carolina  Synod, 
and  becomes  pastor  at  Ebenezer — His  piety  and  qualification 
for  the  Avork — State  of  the  congregation — Methodist  and  Bap- 
tist churches  organized — Methodist  church  at  Goshen — Rev.  J. 
0.  Andrew — Delusion — A  false  messiah — Strange  scene  at 
Goshen — Sad  results — Rev.  L.  Myers  locates  at  Goshen — Ilia 
character,  labours,  and  death — Temperance  movement  at 
Ebenezer — Mr.  Bergman  introduces  English  preaching — His 
marriage — His  children — Temporal  and  spiritual  prosperity — 
Emigration  of  Salzburgers  to  other  counties — Church  in  Sa- 
vannah— Rev.  S.  A.  Mealy — Rev.  N.  Aldrich — New  church  in 
Savannah — Rev.  A.  J.  Karn — German  congregation — Rev.  W. 
Epping — Disaflection  at  Ebenezer — Other  churches  built  up 
by  Salzburgers — Mr.  Bergman  as  a  scholar — Trials — Indiffer- 
ence to  education — Mr.  Bergman's  sickness  and  death — Rev. 
J.  D.  Schenck — Rev.  E.  A.  Bolles — Difficulties  at  Ebenezer — 
Rev.  P.  A.  Strobel— Death  of  Mrs.  Bergman— Rev.  E.  Kieffer— 
Rev.  G.  Haltiwanger — Rev.  J.  Austin — Present  condition  of 
the  church — "Father  Snider." 

The  condition  of  the  colony  at  Ebenezer, 
on  the  death  of  Mr.  Bergman,  was  gloomy  in- 
deed.    Owing  to  the  establishment  of  the  inde- 


250  THE   SALZBURGERS 


pendence  of  the  States,  the  "  Society  for  Pro- 
moting Christian  Knowledge"  had  ceased  to  ex- 
tend any  aid  to  the  Salzburgcrs,  and  as  the 
congregation  at  Ebenezer  had  made  some 
changes  in  the  administration  of  its  affairs,  the 
church  no  longer  looked  to  their  friends  in  Ger- 
many to  supply  them  with  a  pastor.  Their 
friend  and  faithful  adviser,  Dr.  Muhlenburg, 
was  dead,  and  there  was  no  Lutheran  Synod  in 
the  South  from  which  they  could  expect  to  receive 
any  aid.  It  is  true,  Mr.  Bergman  had  left  a  son, 
Christopher  F.,  a  young  man  of  deep  piety  and 
of  extensive  learning,  acquired  mostly  under 
the  instruction  of  his  father,  and  to  him  the 
people  naturally  looked  as  the  successor  of  their 
late  venerable  pastor.  His  mind,  however,  was 
turned  in  a  different  direction. 

Young  Bergman  seems  in  early  life  to  have 
imbibed  strong  Calvinistic  sentiments.  This,  no 
doubt,  was  the  result  of  his  reading.  He  had 
made  himself  familiar  with  the  writings  of  Scott, 
Henry,  Doddridge,  and  other  eminent  divines 
of  that  school,  and  he  appears  to  have  adopted 
the  doctrine  of  the  "Divine  Sovereignty"  and 
the  doctrine  of  "grace,"  as  taught  in  Cal- 
vin's institutes.  So  far  had  he  gone  in  em- 
bracing these  tenets,  that  he  attended  several 
sessions  of  the  Georgia  Presbytery,  one  in  Abbe- 
ville South  Carolina,  in  1821,  one  in  Augusta 
in  1822,  and  the  other  at  Darien  in  1823.     At 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANT?.  J..')! 


this  latter  meeting  he  presented  a  Latin  exegesis 
on  this  question,  "An  Christus  sit  Deus  verus." 
The  exegesis  was  received  with  great  favour  by 
the  Presbytery,  and  Mr.  Bergman  was  examined 
as  to  his  personal  piety,  and  upon  natural  and 
moral  science.  This  examination  was  highly 
creditable,  and  furnished  unmistakable  evidence 
of  fine  order  of  intellect  and  very  extensive  ac- 
quirements. Mr.  Bergman  was  consequently 
duly  licensed  as  a  Presbyterian  minister.  In 
his  father's  congregation,  he  had  occasionally 
exercised  his  gifts  in  preaching  the  gospel,  but 
it  was  not  with  a  view  to  become  the  pastor  of 
the  church.  This  may  be  learned  from  the  fol- 
lowing extract  of  a  letter  addressed  to  Rev.  M. 
Rauch  in  Orangeburg,  South  Carolina,  and  dated 
September  7,  1821. 

*'  I  have  been  for  a  while  past  revolving  the  question 
within  myself,  on  the  propriety  of  my  assuming  the  pas- 
toral relation  in  connection  with  our  society.  It  is  not 
very  material  whether  we  are  denominated  Calvinistic 
or  Lutheran,  provided  the  gospel  be  preached  in  purity 
and  according  to  its  true  intent  and  acceptation.  As  to 
the  exposition  of  the  doctrine  of  grace,  we  need  only  refer 
to  impartial  history  to  discover  that  Luther  maintained 
it  no  less  strenuously  than  Calvin  himself,  differing  only 
in  a  few  slight  shades.  The  f\ict  is  this,  there  are  mys- 
teries in  revelation  which  a  finite  mind  is  incapable  of 
resolving  on  any  known  principles. 

"If  I  say,  'Christ  is  the  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the 
whole  world,'  the  question  arises,  *  Why  then  are  not  all 
saved?'  because  they  do  not  believe;  but  then 'faith  is 
the  gift  of  God.'     It  is  the  word  of  God  that  wo  believe, 


252  THE   SALZBURGERS 


when  he  has  said,  that  nothing  debars  us  from  salvation 
but  unwillingness  or  dissimulation.  If,  then,  this  desire 
and  inclination  be  implanted  in  us  by  God's  Holy  Spirit, 
we  shall  of  course  be  saved.  Our  salvation  must  be  gra- 
tuitously bestowed,  if  by  free  grace. 

"The  diflBculty  that  presents  itself  on  the  other  hand 
is  no  less  formidable.  The  only  way  to  extricate  our- 
selves is  to  receive  the  sacred  Scriptures  as  we  find  them, 
and  not  confine  ourselves  to  abstract  systematic  reason- 
ing.    The  Scripture  is  the  best  interpreter  of  itself. 

"  Yours  sincerely, 

Christopher  F.  Bergman." 

In  this  state  of  mind  Mr.  Bergman  continued  in 
the  Presbyterian  church  until  the  year  1824.  In 
the  mean  time  he  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  the 
Lutheran  church  in  St.  Matthew's  Parish,  South 
Carolina,  which,  however,  he  declined.  In  1824, 
Dr.  Bachman,  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church  in 
Charleston,  went  to  Savannah  with  a  view  to 
attempt  a  reorganization  of  the  Lutheran  con- 
gregation in  the  latter  city.  Dr.  Bachman  ex- 
tended his  visit  to  Ebenezer,  and  had  an  inter- 
view with  Mr.  Bergman.  This  interview,*  in  con- 
nection with  a  subsequent  correspondence  be- 
tween the  parties,  gave  a  new  direction  to  the 
theological  views  of  Mr.  Bergman.  He  embraced 
cordially  the  doctrines  of  the  Lutheran  church; 
and,  in  November,  1824,  was  received  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of 
South  Carolina  and  adjacent  States,  and  solemnly 
ordained  a  minister  of  the  gospel.     He  imme- 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  253 


diately  assumed  tlic  pastoral  charge  of  tlie  con- 
gregation at  Ebenezer. 

To  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  a  pastor, 
Mr.  Bergman  brought  a  mind  well  stored  with 
varied  and  useful  learning,  and  a  heart  deeply 
imbued  with  a  spirit  of  Christian  humility  and  un- 
feigned piety.  In  his  tastes  he  was,  perhaps,  rather 
too  refined  for  the  particular  sphere  in  which  he 
moved.  He  had  been  a  close  student  of  nature, 
and  his  journal  furnishes  abundant  evidence  of 
a  rich  exuberance  of  sentiment,  chastened,  how- 
ever, by  a  strong  religious  sentiment.  His  cast 
of  mind  was,  perhaps,  rather  melancholic,  but 
yet  he  seems  always  to  have  cherished  an  un- 
wavering confidence  in  God,  which  cheered  and 
animated  him,  even  under  the  most  trying  cir- 
cumstances. Still,  there  was  a  natural  timidity 
and  reserve  in  his  character,  which  operated 
somewhat  to  his  disadvantage  as  a  pastor. 

When  he  assumed  that  relation  at  Ebenezer, 
he  found  the  congregation  in  a  declining  condi- 
tion. This,  as  has  been  stated,  was  occasioned 
in  part  by  the  want  of  proper  discipline,  and 
also  by  the  too  long  use  of  the  German  lan- 
guage. These  causes  induced  many  of  the  de- 
scendants of  the  Salzburgers  to  forsake  the 
church  of  their  fathers,  and  unite  in  the  organi- 
zation of  other  societies.  Methodist  and  Bap- 
tist churches  sprung  up  in  various  parts  of  the 
county,  and  the  preachers  of  these  denomina- 


254  THE   SALZBURGERS 


tions  seemed  to  labour  with  great  zeal  to  prose- 
lyte the  members  of  the  Lutheran  church  and 
their  families.  In  this  they  were  only  too  suc- 
cessful. In  the  neighbourhood  of  Goshen,  Mr. 
David  Gougle  and  his  family,  with  several  others, 
were  induced  to  join  the  Methodist  society;  and, 
as  they  were  allowed  the  use  of  the  Lutheran 
church  at  Goshen,  in  process  of  time  the  church 
itself  was  transferred  to  the  Methodist  Confer- 
ence, and  is  held  to  this  day  as  their  property, 
though  the  swan  still  surmounts  the  spire,  clearly 
showing  what  was  originally  the  character  of 
the  church. 

The  Methodist  church  at  Goshen  was  organ- 
ized about  the  year  1822.  The  Rev.  James  0. 
Andrew  (now  Bishop  Andrew)  was  at  that  time 
stationed  in  Savannah,  but  occasionally,  and 
perhaps  statedly,  visited  Goshen.  It  was  under 
his  ministry  that  this  society  was  formed,  though 
the  transfer  of  the  property  did  not  take  place 
for  several  years  afterwards.  Among  the  first 
members  of  this  society,  were,  besides  Mr.  David 
Gougle,  his  daughters,  Mrs.  Nowlan  (wife  of 
Major  Nowlan)  and  Mrs.  Charlton,  and  the  hus- 
band of  the  latter.  Major  John  Charlton. 

There  is  a  singular  incident  connected  with 
the  history  of  this  church  at  Goshen,  which  it 
may  be  proper  to  insert  here.  The  facts  are 
given,  but,  out  of  respect  to  the  feelings  of  their 
families,  the  names  of  the  parties  are  suppressed. 


AND    THETll    DESCENDANTS.  255 


Two  gentlemen,  Mr.  D —  and  Captain  W — , 
labouring  under  a  strange  hallucination,  ima- 
gined themselves  called,  by  a  special  revelation 
from  heaven,  to  preach  the  gospel.  By  dwell- 
ing too  much  upon  this  subject,  they  ultimately 
became  somewhat  monomaniac,  and  announced 
themselves  respectively  as  John  the  Baptist  and 
the  Messiah.  They  made  an  appointment  to 
preach  at  Goshen,  but  owing  to  their  insane 
pretensions,  the  elders  closed  the  church  against 
them.  Nevertheless,  they  attended  at  the 
church  at  the  time  appointed,  and  announced  to 
the  large  congregation  assembled,  that,  as  an 
evidence  of  the  divinity  of  their  mission,  the 
doors  and  windows  would  fly  open  miraculously, 
precisely  at  twelve  o'clock.  But  their  prediction 
"was  not  verified,  and  they  were  compelled  to 
leave  the  assemblage,  being  deeply  mortified  at 
their    disappointment.       Of  course,    the   whole 

affair    proved  a  miserable   farce.     Mr.  W 

left  his  house  the  next  day,  under  great  mental 
excitement,  and  wandered  about  in  the  woods 
until  he  died  from  hunger  and  exhaustion.  Apart 
from  this  strange  delusion,  he  is  represented  as 
having  been  one  of  the  best  and  most  exemplary 
men  of  his  day,  and  was  even  honoured  with  a 

seat  in  the  Legislature.     Mr.  D ,  who  had 

once  been  sheriff  of  Effingham  county,  after 
being  immersed  some  three  or  four  times,  con- 
nected himself  with  the  "Bible  Christians  or 


.256  THE   SALZBURGERS 


Campbellltes."  He  still  lives,  and  is  man  of 
great  integrity,  and  possesses  many  fine  traits  of 
character. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  Goshen  resided  the 
Rev.  Lewis  Myers,  a  venerable  local  preacher 
of  the  Methodist  connection.  He  was  admitted 
a  member  of  the  South  Carolina  Conference  in 
1799,  and  continued  in  the  itinerancy  until 
about  the  year  1823,  when  he  settled  with  his 
family  at  Goshen  in  Effingham  county.  Father 
Myers  occupied  a  very  conspicuous  place  in  the 
Methodist  church.  He  was  stationed  at  one 
time  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and  fre- 
quently received  the  appointment  of  presiding 
elder.  He  travelled  extensively  in  South  Caro- 
lina and  Georgia,  and  by  his  zeal  and  piety 
always  secured  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
those  who  formed  his  acquaintance.  After  he 
located,  he  laboured  diligently  in  the  cause  of 
his  Master.  He  was  a  warm  friend  of  Sab- 
bath-schools and  the  temperance  cause,  and  gave 
to  both  the  full  weight  of  his  influence.  In  his 
domestic  relations,  he  was  dutiful  and  affection- 
ate, and  very  social  in  his  feelings.  He  always 
candidly  reproved  faults  when  he  discovered 
them,  but  the  reproof  was  tempered  with  kind- 
ness, and  no  one  could  fail  to  see  the  spirit  of  the 
honest,  uncompromising  Christian  in  every  act 
of  his  life.  He  reared  an  intelligent  and  re- 
spectable family,  most  of  whom  are  still  living. 


AND  THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  257 


Father   Myers  was  attacked  with  paralysis  in 

1848,  from  which  he  never  fully  recovered.     In 

1849,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Springfield, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1851. 

Mr.  Bergman  entered  upon  his  duties  at 
Ebenezer  with  zeal,  and  with  a  full  determina- 
tion to  discharge  his  obligations  to  his  people  in 
the  fear  of  God ;  but  he  soon  found  that  he  was 
to  meet  with  serious  opposition  in  carrying  out 
some  of  his  measures  of  reform.  He  had  seen 
that  intemperance  was  prevailing  to  rather  too 
great  an  extent  among  the  people  of  the  county, 
and  that  some  of  his  own  church-members  were 
not  as  free  from  this  sin  as  he  had  a  right  to 
expect.  He  therefore  felt  constrained  to  re- 
prove this  vice  from  the  pulpit,  and  to  suggest 
the  propriety  of  organizing  a  temperance  society. 
This  measure  met  with  very  few  advocates,  and 
it  is  said  that  one  of  his  members  rebuked  him 
publicly,  in  not  very  mild  terms,  for  his  temerity 
in  attempting  to  correct  this  evil.  He  was  not, 
however,  driven  from  his  purpose. 

Mr.  Bergman  continued  to  preach  at  Eben- 
ezer, at  Bethel,  and  occasionally  at  Zion's,  and 
he  introduced  the  use  of  the  English  language 
in  all  the  churches.  This,  together  with  the 
better  enforcement  of  the  discipline,  had  a  bene- 
ficial influence  upon  the  spiritual  interests  of 
the  church,  and  the  cause  of  true  piety  seemed 
27* 


258  THE   SALZBUKGERS 


generally  to  revive.  Still  there  -was  tnucli  apathy 
and  indifiference  among  a  large  portion  of  the 
members. 

In  1826,  Mr.  Bergman  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  C.  Fieri,  second  daughter  of  Mr.  Israel 
Fieri,  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  Salzburgers. 
This  lady,  in  point  of  mind  and  disposition,  was 
well  calculated  to  become  the  companion  of  such 
a  man  as  Mr.  Bergman,  and  their  union  was  a 
source  of  mutual  happiness  and  comfort.  By 
this  marriage,  Mr.  Bergman  had  three  children, 
only  one  of  whom  survived  him ;  a  daughter,  who 
died,  however,  in  1837. 

There  is  nothing  of  special  importan  ce  to  notice 
in  the  general  condition  of  the  descendants  of  the 
Salzburgers  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Bergman. 
In  their  temporal  interests  they  were  very  much 
prospered;  and,  on  the  whole,  the  church  had 
made  some  improvement  in  spirituality. 

There  was,  however,  manifested  by  many  of 
the  Salzburgers,  a  disposition  to  emigrate  to 
other  sections  of  Georgia.  Some  had  removed 
to  Scriven,  and  other  families  had  located  in 
Lowndes  and  Thomas  counties ;  and  in  fact,  the 
descendants  of  the  Salzburgers,  if  we  had  the 
means  to  trace  them  up,  could  no  doubt  be  found 
in  many  States  of  the  Union,  from  Pennsylva- 
nia to  Louisiana,  and  in  nearly  one-third  of 
the  counties  of  Georgia ;  though,  it  is  true,  in 
most    cases,    in    rather    an    isolated    condition ; 


AKB   TIIEIH   DESCENDANTS.  259 


still  they  retain  their  names  and  their  general 
characteristics. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  church  in 
Savannah.  The  congregation,  since  the  elder 
Bergman  relinquished  his  charge,  had  greatly 
declined,  though  there  were  some  pious  fami- 
lies who  still  adhered  to  our  confession.  In 
1824,  Dr.  Bachman  of  Charleston  succeeded  in 
reorganizing  the  church.  He  found  the  families 
of  Mr.  Frederick  Herb,  Mr.  Snider,  Mr.  Haupt, 
Mr.  Spann,  Mr.  Gougle,  Mr.  Felt,  Mrs.  S. 
Cooper,  Mrs.  N.  Weriman,  and  Mrs.  L.  Cooper, 
and  some  others  who  were  still  attached  to  the 
Lutheran  church,  and  were  disposed  to  unite  in 
an  eifort  to  resuscitate  the  congregation.  The 
effort  was  successful. 

The  same  year,  the  Rev\  Stephen  A.  Mealy, 
a  native  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and  a 
licentiate  of  the  South  Carolina  Synod,  was  in- 
duced to  remove  to  Savannah  and  assume  the 
pastoral  charge  of  the  church.  Mr.  Mealy  had 
the  pleasure  to  see  the  church  attain  to  consider- 
able respectability,  both  as  to  piety  and  num- 
bers. He  served  this  people  Avith  great  useful- 
ness until  1839,  when  he  accepted  a  call  from 
St.  Matthew's  Church  in  Philadelphia,  and  re- 
moved to  that  city. 

Mr.  Mealy  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  N.  Aldrich 
of  Charleston.  Mr.  Aldrich  removed  to  Savan- 
nah in  1840.     Up  to  the  year  1843,  the  congre- 


260  THE   SALZBURGERS 


gation  had  worshipped  in  a  small  wooden  church 
which  had  been  erected  before  the  Revolutionary 
War.  As,  however,  the  city  of  Savannah  was 
rapidly  improving,  and  the  congregation  had  in- 
creased in  wealth  and  intelligence,  a  fine  brick 
edifice  eighty-eight  by  fifty-six  feet  was  erected, 
at  a  cost  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  The  church 
was  dedicated  in  the  fall  of  1843,  on  which  oc- 
casion the  pastor  was  aided  by  Rev.  Dr.  Bach- 
man  of  Charleston. 

Mr.  Aldrich  continued  in  Savannah  until  the 
year  1850,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev. 
A.  J.  Karn,  who  still  sustains  the  pastoral  rela- 
tion. Mr.  Karn  labours  with  great  acceptance 
to  the  people  of  his  charge.  The  congregation 
is  rapidly  improving,  and  has  been  blessed  with 
several  gracious  revivals,  which  have  brought 
many  members  into  the  church.  This  congrega- 
tion occupies,  at  this  time,  a  very  favourable 
position  in  the  estimation  of  the  Christian  com- 
munity of  Savannah,  and  is  making  itself  re- 
spected by  the  happy  influence  that  it  is  exert- 
ing upon  the  moral  interests  of  a  large  portion 
of  the  community.  Within  the  last  two  years  a 
German  congregation  has  been  organized,  which 
bids  fair,  under  the  divine  blessing,  to  accomplish 
much  good  for  the  large  German  population  which 
is  now  to  be  found  in  that  city.  The  German 
congregation  is  at  present  supplied  by  the  Rev. 
W.  Epping.    These  two  churches,  acting  as  they 


AND   THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  261 


do  in  concert,  are  well  adapted  to  meet  the 
wants  of  the  English  and  German  Lutherans  in 
Savannah,  and  important  results  may  be  confi- 
dently expected  from  them.  May  great  grace 
abide  upon  them,  and  may  God  continually  add 
to  their  number  scores  and  hundreds,  who  shall 
be  saved  in  the  great  day  of  rejoicing. 

It  has  been  deemed  proper  to  make  this  refer- 
ence to  the  Lutheran  church  in  Savannah,  be- 
cause it  was  originally  organized  by  emigrants 
from  Salzburg,  and  was  for  many  years  a  con- 
stituent part  of  the  pastorate  at  Ebenezer. 
Great  changes,  however,  have  taken  place  in  the 
congregation.  Very  few  of  its  present  members 
are  descended  from  the  original  stock,  and  the 
church  has  become  entirely  anglicized.  In  fact, 
it  has  been  so  ever  since  1824,  when  Mr.  Mealy 
became  the  pastor.  Having  said  this  much  in 
relation  to  Savannah,  it  is  time  to  return  to 
Ebenezer. 

It  has  been  stated  that  many  of  the  descend- 
ants of  the  Salzburgers  had  abandoned  the 
church  of  their  fathers,  and  had  aided  mate- 
rially in  the  organization  of  other  churches. 
In  Savannah,  in  the  Episcopal  church,  the  Me- 
thodist Episcopal  church,  and  the  Baptist 
church,  many  of  them  may  be  found.  This  is 
particularly  the  case  in  reference  to  the  Metho- 
dist church.  There  we  find  the  Remsharts,  the 
Sniders,  the  Heidts,  and  others;  some  of  them 


262  THE   SALZBURGERS 


men  of  wealth  and  influence.  This  is,  however, 
more  especially  true  in  relation  to  Effingham 
county.  Prominent  among  the  Methodists  may 
be  seen  the  Hineleys,  Sherraus,  Bergsteiners, 
Scheubtrines,  Neidlingers,  Zittrauers,  Mingle- 
dorffs,  Oechleys,  (now  spelled  Exley,)  occasion- 
ally a  Rahn,  a  Gnann,  a  Zettler,  and  some  of 
the  descendants  of  the  Gougels,  including  the 
Charltons,  Remsharts,  and  others.  In  the  Bap- 
tist church,  there  are  occasionally  a  Rahn,  some 
of  the  Dashers,  Waldhours,  Wisenbakers,  Berg- 
steiners, &c.  &c.  These  families  constitute,  for 
the  most  part,  the  most  conspicuos  and  wealthy 
members  in  the  churches  to  which  they  respec- 
tively belong.  Their  withdrawal  from  the  Lu- 
theran church  was  certainly  a  serious  loss ;  but 
it  is  consoling  to  think  that  they  still  form  a 
portion  of  the  great  army  of  our  common  Lord, 
and  in  their  new  spheres  of  action  are  contri- 
buting materially  to  push  forward  the  triumphs 
of  the  cross.  Though,  therefore,  they  have 
"gone  out  from  us,"  we  can  heartily  wish  them 
God-speed,  even  though  it  may  not  be  proper  to 
endorse  the  propriety  of  the  course  which  they 
pursued,  in  abandoning  the  church  of  their 
fathers,  especially  as  they  cannot  find  in  other 
communities  any  thing  which  is  sounder  in  faith, 
or  wiser,  or  more  judicious  in  discipline  and 
church  government,  than  existed  in  the  church 
which  they  left.     And  if  reform  was   needed, 


AND   TIlEm    DESCENDANTS.  263 


they  who  were  the  first  to  perceive  the  necessity, 
were  under  the  greatest  obligation  to  labour  with 
the  most  untiring  zeal  and  energy  to  effect  it. 

These  disaffections  among  the  Salzburgcrs 
toward  the  Lutheran  church,  many  of  which 
occurred  in  the  lifetime  of  Mr.  Bergman,  proved 
a  source  of  great  grief  to  him ;  and  although  he 
had  a  consciousness  that  he  did  his  duty  faith- 
fully, yet  he  was  pained  at  the  results,  even 
though  he  was  not  the  cause  of  bringing  them 
about. 

The  younger  Bergman  presided  over  the 
spiritual  interests  of  the  Ebenezer  congregations 
for  about  eight  years.  If  there  was  any  fault 
of  which  he  was  guilty,  it  was  too  close  atten- 
tion to  his  literary  pursuits,  to  the  neglect  of 
pastoral  visitations  and  the  serious  injury  of  his 
health.  He  evidently  was  a  very  close  and  in- 
dustrious student,  and  he  laboured  to  acquire 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  every  department  of 
science  and  literature.  He  has  left  a  number 
of  treatises  on  various  subjects,  including  botany, 
meteorology,  astronomy,  natural  philosophy, 
history,  poetry,  belles  lettres,  kc.  Beside  which 
he  kept  a  diary  in  which  are  carefully  and  mi- 
nutely noted  all  the  important  events  that  hap- 
pened in  our  own  country  and  throughout  the 
world,  as  far  as  they  came  to  his  knowledge. 
His  acquirements  in  the  languages  and  mathe- 
matics were  extensive  ;  and  what  is  remarkable, 


2G4  THE   SALZBURGERS 


his  entire  education  was  obtained  in  his  father's 
study.  But  his  paternal  instructor  was  well 
fitted  for  the  task,  being  himself  a  man  of  very 
extraordinary  attainments. 

Among  the  other  causes  of  regret  to  Mr. 
Bergman,  was  the  indifference  which  many  of 
the  Salzburgers  began  to  manifest  on  the  subject 
of  education.  It  had  been  an  object  with  all 
the  pastors  at  Ebenezer,  to  keep  up  good  paro- 
chial schools  at  each  of  the  churches,  and  for 
many  years  this  was  successfully  done.  Even 
after  the  Revolution,  when  the  elder  Bergman 
came  over  from  Germany  a  teacher  accompanied 
him,  as  has  been  stated,  and  the  school  at  Eben- 
ezer was  reorganized  and  sustained  for  many 
years.  But  as  the  Salzburgers  began  to  remove 
from  Ebenezer  and  settle  upon  their  farms,  they 
gradually  lost  their  interest  (or  at  least  in  a 
good  measure)  in  the  subject  of  education,  and 
many  of  them  permitted  their  children  to  grow 
up  in  comparative  ignorance,  having  very  little 
more  than  the  rudiments  of  the  plainest  Eng- 
lish education.  In  this  the  people  have  been 
very  culpable,  especially  as  there  is  a  fund  be- 
longing to  the  church  for  the  education  of  those 
children  whose  parents  may  see  proper  to  avail 
themselves  of  it. 

About  the  year  1830,  Mr.  Bergman's  health 
began  to  decline ;  and  it  became  manifest  to  his 
friends   and  himself  that  his   constitution  was 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  266 


seriously  impaired.  Nevertheless  he  endeavoured 
to  perform  his  duties  faithfully  and  cheerfully, 
as  far  as  his  strength  would  permit.  In  the 
early  part  of  the  year  1832,  it  was  evident  that 
the  season  of  his  probation  and  ministerial  use- 
fulness was  drawing  to  a  close.  About  the  1st 
of  March  he  was  compelled  to  desist  from  all 
active  employments,  and  about  the  middle  he 
was  confined  to  his  bed.  He  became  so  reduced 
in  the  course  of  a  week  that  he  could  not  speak 
above  a  whisper.  Thus  he  continued  gradually 
to  waste  away  until  the  26th  of  March,  1832, 
when  he  was  gathered  to  his  rest  in  peace.  A 
short  time  before  his  death  he  regained  sufficient 
strength  to  be  able  to  converse  with  a  ministerial 
brother,  (Rev.  S.  A.  Mealy)  to  whom  he  re- 
marked :  '<  If  it  is  the  divine  will,  I  am  prepared 
and  would  rather  go  now.  I  feel  that  for  me  to 
depart  and  to  be  with  Christ,  is  far  better.  I 
think  I  can  truly  say,  for  me  to  live  is  Christ 
and  to  die  is  gain.  Blessed  be  the  God  and 
Father  of  my  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  I  have  no 
doubts.  ...  I  look  into  the  grave  without  alarm. 
I  believe  I  can  say  without  dread,  to  « corrup- 
tion thou  art  my  father,  and  to  the  worm  thou 
art  my  mother  and  sister..*  "  He  then  repeated 
with  great  energy,  while  his  face  was  irradiated 
with  a  heavenly  smile,  the  Christian's  hymn  of 
triumph : 

23 


266  THE   SALZBURGERS 


**  Cease,  fond  nature,  cease  thy  strife, 
And  let  me  languish  into  life. 
*  *  *  « 

Lend,  lend  your  wings,  I  mount,  I  fly  ! 
0  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ? 
0  death,  where  is  thy  sting?" 

With  this  language  upon  his  lips,  he  gently  fell 
asleep  in  Jesus,  and  was  gathered  to  his  fathers 
like  one  "who  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams." 
On  the  27th  of  March  he  was  buried  in  Eben- 
ezer  cemetery,  adding  another  to  the  pious  and 
truly  godly  men  who  repose  in  that  ancient  and 
venerable  receptacle  of  the  dead.  The  congre- 
gation, as  an  evidence  of  the  high  regard  which 
was  cherished  for  him,  erected  a  suitable  tablet 
to  his  memory  in  the  cemetery  at  Ebenezer. 

The  Rev.  John  D.  Scheck  succeeded  Mr. 
Bergman.  Mr.  Scheck  is  a  native  of  Maryland. 
In  1831  he  removed  to  South  Carolina,  and  con- 
nected himself  with  the  Lutheran  Synod  of  that 
State.  During  the  jBrst  year  of  his  ministry  he 
missionated  among  the  destitute  congregations 
in  the  bounds  of  the  synod.  He  then  accepted 
a  call  to  the  charge  of  the  Lutheran  church  in 
St.  Matthew's  Parish,  Orangeburg  District, 
South  Carolina.  From  this  charge  he  removed 
to  Ebenezer,  and  served  the  congregation  until 
1838,  when  he  resigned  and  removed  for  a  brief 
period  to  Alabama.  Mr.  Scheck's  labours  were 
duly  appreciated  by  a  large  portion  of  the  con- 
gregation, and  it  is  believed  that  his  preaching 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  267 


"Was  blessed  to  the  edification  of  not  a  few. 
Nothing,  however,  of  specia  limportance  occurred 
during  his  connection  with  the  church. 

While  Mr.  Scheck  was  pastor,  his  health  and 
that  of  his  family  suficred  very  much  during  their 
residence  at  Ebenezer,  from  the  miasma  arising 
from  the  river  and  swamps.  It  became  neces- 
sary, therefore,  to  build  a  new  parsonage  in  the 
pine  land,  about  three  miles  from  Ebenezer. 
This  house  has  been  the  permanent  residence 
of  the  pastors  ever  since,  and  has  proved  to  be 
one  of  the  healthiest  locations  in  all  that 
country.  At  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Scheck,  the 
congregation  likewise  improved  the  church, 
placing  in  it  a  new  pulpit  after  the  modern 
style,  and  in  other  respects  rendering  the  church 
more  comfortable  and  tasty  in  its  exterior  and 
interior  appearance. 

In  1838,  the  Rev.  E.  A.  Bolles  of  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  received  and  accepted  a  call  to 
the  Ebenezer  charge.  Mr.  Bolles  had  been  a 
private  student  of  Dr.  Bachman's,  and  subse- 
quently spent  two  years  in  the  theological  semi- 
nary at  Lexington,  South  Carolina.  Upon 
leaving  the  seminary  he  removed  to  North  Caro- 
lina, where  he  remained  a  year,  prior  to  his  loca- 
tion at  Ebenezer.  Mr.  Bolles  was  for  several 
years  successful  as  a  pastor,  and  made  many 
warm  friends  at  Ebenezer.  However,  in  1842, 
an  attempt  was  made  to  introduce  and  enforce 


268  THE    SALZBURGERS 


the  new  discipline,  adopted  by  the  Synod  of 
South  Carolina,  which  was  warmly  opposed  by  a 
large  number  of  the  members,  and  resulted  in  a 
schism,  which  wellnigh  rent  the  church  in  twain. 
For  this  measure  there  was  really  no  neces- 
sity. Those  who  attempted  to  introduce  the 
new  discipline  were  no  doubt  influenced  by  the 
purest  and  best  motives,  but  they  evidently 
acted  unadvisedly.  A  reform  in  the  church  was 
greatly  needed ;  but  those  who  favoured  it,  did 
not  adopt  the  most  judicious  course  to  effect 
their  laudable  object.  If  they  had  examined 
the  archives  of  the  church,  they  would  have 
found  a  discipline  already  in  existence  far  supe- 
rior in  every  respect  to  the  one  which  they  pro- 
posed to  introduce,  and  by  planting  themselves 
upon  that,  they  might  very  easily  have  accom- 
plished their  purpose  ;  and  while,  by  this  course, 
they  would  have  fortified  their  own  position, 
they  might  have  disarmed  the  opponents  of  the 
discipline  of  their  most  powerful  arguments 
against  the  measure.  The  new  discipline  was 
evidently  adopted  unconstitutionally,  and  it  was 
well  for  all  parties  that  this  controversy  was 
amicably  settled.  This  was  accomplished  through 
the  agency  of  Dr.  Bachman  of  Charleston,  then 
President  of  the  Synod.  In  1843  he  visited 
Ebenezer,  and  calling  the  whole  congregation 
together,  the  matters  in  dispute  were  all  dis- 
cussed and  an  adjustment  effected,  which  was 


AND   TIIKIR   DESCENDANTS.  200 


satisfactory  to  the  great  majority  of  the  members. 
A  few,  however,  still  remained  disaffected,  and 
several  left  the  chm-ch.  The  strife  had  been 
very  severe,  and  various  documents  had  been 
presented  to  the  synod,  setting  forth  the  views 
of  the  respective  parties ;  and  it  was  accomplish- 
ing much  for  the  church,  Avhcn,  after  all  the 
crimination  and  recrimination  which  had  occur- 
red, the  dispute  was  settled  upon  any  terms 
whatever.  There  was  a  union  effected,  but  it  is 
to  be  feared  it  was  not  a  very  cordial  one. 

Mr.  Bolles  continued  at  Ebenezer  during  the 
remainder  of  this  year;  but  in  1844,  he  relin- 
quished the  position  and  removed  to  his  native 
city.  After  a  short  sojourn  there,  he  accepted  a 
call  to  the  Beth-Eden  charge  in  Newberry  Dis- 
trict, South  Carolina.  He  is  now  an  agent  for 
the  American  Bible  Society  in  South  Carolina, 
in  which  position  he  is  rendering  good  service 
to  the  cause  of  Christ. 

After  Mr.  Bolles  removed  from  Ebenezer,  the 
congregation  extended  a  call  to  Rev.  P.  A.  Stro- 
bel,  at  the  time  principal  of  a  female  seminary 
in  Savannah.  Mr.  Strobel  is  a  native  of 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  and  a  graduate  of 
the  theological  seminary  at  Lexington,  South 
Carolina.  The  call  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Stro- 
bel served  the  congregation  for  four  years  and  a 
half. 

During  Mr.  Strobel's  stay  at  Ebenezer,  a  new 


270  THE   SALZBURGEES 


church  was  built  on  the  Middle  Ground  Road, 
near  the  Ogeechee  Eiver.  This  church  was  de- 
signed for  the  accommodation  of  those  members 
who  had  removed  so  far  from  Ebenezer  that  it 
was  impracticable  for  them  to  attend  preaching 
at  the  parent  church.  It  is  believed  that  this 
measure  was  the  means  of  saving  many  mem- 
bers to  the  Lutheran  church,  who  w^ould  other- 
wise have  been  lost  to  it,  and  it  also  carried 
the  means  of  grace  to  a  very  destitute  neigh- 
bourhood. 

Mr.  Strobel  continued  at  Ebenezer  until  the 
commencing  of  the  year  1849,  when  he  removed 
to  the  city  of  Macon,  and  accepted  an  appoint- 
ment as  missionary  to  the  few  Lutheran  families 
who  reside  in  that  city.  After  labouring  in  this 
field  a  year,  with  some  prospect  of  success,  it 
was  found  impossible  to  prosecute  the  mission 
successfully,  and  it  was  abandoned.  The  Luthe- 
rans in  Macon  are  mostly  Germans,  and  their 
attachments  to  the  church  of  their  fathers  are 
not  strong  enough  to  induce  them  to  make  the 
necessary  sacrifices  to  build  up  a  congregation. 
Those  who  make  any  pretensions  to  piety  at  all, 
have  become  pew-holders  and  worshippers  in 
other  churches,  and  they  could  not  be  induced 
to  unite  cordially  in  the  enterprise  of  erecting  a 
Lutheran  church. 

The  congregation  at  Ebenezer  was  without  a 
regular  pastor  for  more  than  a  year,  after  Mr. 


AND   TIII'IR   DESCENDANTS. 


Strobel  removed  to  Macon.  In  the  mean  time 
the  Rev.  Ephriam  Keiffer  served  them  as  a  tem- 
porary supply.  Mr.  Keiffer  was  a  descendant 
of  the  Salzburgcrs,  and  had  united  -with  the 
church  in  the  lifetime  of  the  elder  Bergman. 
Being  a  man  of  ardent  zeal  and  devoted  piety, 
he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  do  something  to  pro- 
mote the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  church.  En- 
couraged by  the  pastor,  he  was  induced  to  hold 
prayer-meetings  and  deliver  exhortations,  when- 
ever an  opportunity  was  aiforded  him.  He  took 
great  interest  in  the  Sabbath-school,  and  acted 
as  superintendent  for  many  years.  He  was  at 
length  prevailed  upon  to  apply  for  license  to 
preach.  This  was  readily  granted;  for  although 
his  education  was  rather  limited,  yet  he  was  a 
man  of  excellent  natural  abilities,  and  his  good 
sense  and  upright  and  consistent  deportment 
compensated  for  many  other  deficiencies. 

While  the  congregation  remained  vacant,  Mr. 
Kieffer  was  prevailed  upon  by  his  brethren  to 
discharge  the  duties  of  a  pastor,  until  one  could 
be  obtained.  With  great  reluctance  he  com- 
plied with  the  wishes  of  the  congregation,  and 
served  them  until  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1851.  During  this  year  it  pleased  God  to  call 
him  away  from  the  scene  of  his  earthly  labours. 
After  an  illness  of  several  weeks,  he  expired  at 
his  residence  in  Effingham  count}^  closing  his 
career  with  great  serenity  of  mind,  leaving  to 


272  THE   SALZBURGERS 


his  family  and  the  church  the  rich  legacy  of  an 
unblemished  Christian  character. 

The  Rev.  George  Haltiwanger  became  the 
pastor  at  Ebenezer  in  1851.  Mr.  Haltiwanger 
is  a  native  of  Lexington  district,  South  Caro- 
lina, and  a  graduate  of  the  seminary  at  Lexing- 
ton. Possessing  naturally  a  good  mind,  which 
he  has  cultivated  with  some  care,  and  imbued 
with  a  spirit  of  deep  piety,  he  is  well  calculated 
(if  any  man  is)  to  succeed  in  this  somewhat  dif- 
ficult charge.  For  it  is  a  melancholy  truth,  that 
of  late  years  the  congregation  at  Ebenezer  has 
become  rather  hard  to  suit  with  a  pastor.  Mr. 
Bolzius  served  them  for  thirty-tvfo  years.  Mr. 
Rabenhorst  for  more  than  twenty  years.  The 
elder  Bergman  for  thirty-six  years.  And  the 
younger  Bergman  for  eight  years.  And  it  is 
worthy  of  remark,  that  all  the  pastors  at  Eben- 
ezer, up  to  the  time  of  the  younger  Bergman, 
(with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Triebner,)  sustained 
the  pastoral  relation  until  they  were  removed  by 
death.  Since  the  demise  of  the  younger  Berg- 
man, however,  up  to  this  date,  a  period  of  twen- 
ty-two years,  four  changes  have  been  made, 
showing  an  average  of  a  little  more  than  four 
years  for  each  pastor.  It  cannot  always  be  the 
fault  of  the  minister ;  the  people  must  necessa- 
rily be  more  or  less  to  blame,  and  it  would  be 
well  for  them  to  inquire  seriously,  prayerfully, 
and  candidly,  in  how  far  they  have  unneccessa- 


AND    TIIEIK    DESCENDANTS.  273 


rily  rendered  the  situation  of  the  pastor  such, 
as  to  constrain  him  to  leave  the  congregation, 
for  his  own  peace  as  well  as  that  of  the  church. 
A  conofrecration  will  be  made  to  feel,  sooner  or 
later,  the  baneful  effects  arising  from  so  many 
changes,  especially  when  they  are  demanded, 
not  so  much  by  any  want  of  faithfulness  on  the 
part  of  the  minister,  as  by  a  restless,  fault- 
finding, and  captious  spirit  on  the  part  of  the 
people. 

Thus  far,  Mr.  Haltiwanger  has  succeeded  in 
giving  general  satisfaction  to  the  people ;  and 
there  seems  to  be  a  more  general  interest  mani- 
fested on  the  subject  of  religion,  than  for  seve- 
ral years.  Since  his  removal  to  Ebenezer,  a 
new  church  has  been  erected  near  the  old  site 
of  Bethel,  three  miles  above  Springfield,  which 
is  very  creditable  to  those  who  built  it.  In  this 
neighbourhood,  particularly,  the  members  have 
always  been  noted  for  their  piety  and  the  har- 
mony which  prevails  among  them.  It  may,  in 
fact,  be  regarded  as  the  most  interesting  and 
flourishing  part  of  the  congregation,  and  this  in 
no  doubt  attributable  to  the  spirit  of  union  which 
always  prevails  among  them. 

In  this  neighbourhood  lived  and  died  the 
venerable  J.  Gotlieb  Snider.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Revolutionary  AYar,  having  served  his 
country  faithfully  under  General  Wayne.  Fa- 
ther Snider  lived  to  be  nearly  ninety  years  of 


274  THE   SALZBURG ERS 


age.  He  was  contemporary  with  Messrs.  Lembke, 
E-abenhorst,  and  Bergman,  and  lived  until  the 
year  1848.  He  was  a  man  of  ardent  piety,  en- 
larged benevolence,  and  strong  practical  views. 
By  his  beneficence  he  relieved  many  a  widow  and 
orphan,  and  sought  to  render  himself  a  bene- 
factor to  all  who  needed  his  assistance.  As  he 
advanced  in  life,  the  evidences  of  the  divine 
favour  seemed  every  day  to  become  brighter, 
and  his  faith  and  hope  increased  as  he  approached 
the  end  of  his  long  and  eventful  life.  He  de- 
lighted to  speak  of  the  early  days  of  the  colony  ; 
of  the  prosperity  of  Ebenezer  ;  of  the  large  and 
attentive  congregations  that  once  assembled  in 
the  old  church ;  of  the  piety  of  the  pastors  and 
the  spirituality  of  their  flock ;  and  while  he 
dwelt  upon  these  scenes,  his  eyes  would  fill  with 
tears  and  his  countenance  beam  with  holy  joy, 
as  he  would  remark,  "Oh!  I  shall  soon  see 
many  of  these  pious,  good  old  friends  in  hea- 
ven." He  died  in  full  prospect  of  an  inherit- 
ance among  the  saints  in  light.  May  the  savour 
of  his  holy  life  never  be  entirely  lost ! 

The  congregation  at  Ebenezer,  under  the  judi- 
cious management  of  the  Rev.  G.  Haltiwanger, 
is  making  decided  advancement.  There  has  been 
a  steady  increase  of  the  membership,  and  a  gra- 
dual progress  in  the  spirituality  of  the  church. 
The  people  are  beginning  to  manifest  more  en- 
larged views  of  Christian  duty,  and  an  expan- 


AND   TIlEIIl    DESCENDAKTS. 


sive  benevolence,  -SYhich  nugur  well  for  the  future. 
As  some  evidence  of  this  favourable  change,  the 
church  has  been  recently  thoroughly  renovated. 
The  brick  floor  has  been  removed,  and  a  plank 
one  substituted.  Neat  pews  have  taken  the  place 
of  the  old-fashioned  <' benches,"  and  both  the 
interior  and  exterior  of  the  venerable  *'  Jerusa- 
lem" church  have  been  greatly  improved.  One 
alteration  has,  however,  been  made,  which  is 
objectionable.  The  "swan"  which  once  stood 
upon  the  spire  of  the  church  has  been  taken 
down,  and  its  place  is  now  occupied  by  a  "fish." 
This  is  in  bad  taste.  If,  as  has  been  stated,  the 
swan  was  Luther's  coat  of  arms,  it  should  have 
been  permitted  to  remain  as  emblematical  of  the 
distinctive  character  of  the  church.  Besides,  in 
view  of  the  many  thrilling  associations  connected 
with  that  swan,  it  ought  never  have  been  re- 
moved. It  should  have  stood  there  as  a  kind 
of  heirloom,  connecting  the  present  with  all 
the  glorious  and  inspiring  recollections  of  the 
past:  reminding  us  ever  of  the  immortal  Re- 
former, and  the  soul-elevating  doctrines  he  pro- 
claimed ;  in  defence  of  which  the  Salzburgers 
were  exiled,  and  for  their  propagation  and  main- 
tenance erected  that  time-honoured  temple  upon 
the  banks  of  the  beautiful  Savannah.  Let  that 
"fish"  come  down,  and  let  the  old  swan  resume 
its  accustomed  place.  It  stood  there  for  more 
than  a  century,  solitary  and  alone,  weathering 


276  THE   SALZBURGERS 


every  storm,  a  witness  to  all  the  varied  incidentg 
•which  have  marked  the  history  of  the  colony. 
Amid  the  decay  of  generations  and  the  muta- 
tions of  society,  it  has  been  a  silent  yet  eloquent 
monitor,  reminding  us  of  the  noble  moral  heroism 
of  our  ancestors,  and  bidding  us  emulate  the 
example  of  those  whose  attachment  to  a  pure 
and  heavenly  faith  made  them  the  victims  of  a 
dark  and  murderous  spirit,  and  drove  them  upon 
a  "willing  pilgrimage"  in  search  of  that  "holy 
ground"  where,  unawed  by  human  cruelty  and  a 
blind  superstition,  the  soul  might  unfold  its 
pinions  and  soar  aloft  to  hold  sweet  and  unfet- 
tered communion  with  the  "  Father  of  spirits." 

In  addition  to  these  improvements  in  the 
church  edifice,  other  measures  have  been  adopted 
to  advance  the  interests  of  the  church,  which 
cannot  be  too  highly  commended.  The  congre- 
gation have  agreed  to  call  and  support  an  ad- 
junct pastor;  and  the  Kev.  Jacob  Austin,  a  re- 
cent graduate  of  the  seminary  of  Lexington, 
South  Carolina,  has  already  entered  upon  his 
duties  in  that  relation.  Under  this  arrange- 
ment it  would  really  seem  that  nothing  can  be 
wanting,  as  far  as  human  instrumentality  is  con- 
cerned, to  secure  the  permanent  prosperity  of  the 
congregation.  By  a  proper  division  of  labour,  and 
by  harmonious  and  judicious  effort  on  the  part  of 
the  associate  pastors,  the  several  congregations 
can  be  supplied  with  preaching  upon  almost  every 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  277 


Sabbath.  Catechetical  instruction  and  pastoral 
visitation,  those  very  important  agents  in  ministe- 
rial success,  can  be  regularly  and  systematically 
employed;  and  the  descendants  of  the  Salzburgers 
may  yet,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  witness  a 
return  of  that  glorious  period  in  the  history  of 
the  church,  'when  under  the  instruction  of  two 
pious  and  faithful  pastors,  the  prayer-meeting, 
the  catechetical  lecture,  and  the  ministerial  con- 
ference shall  be  resumed,  and  the  shepherds, 
being  themselves  nourished  with  "  the  pure  milk 
of  the  word,"  and  "enriched  with  all  spiritual 
grace,"  shall  be  the  better  prepared  to  lead  this 
precious  flock  into  "the  green  pastures  and  be- 
side the  still  waters,"  and  God  shall  be  their 
God,  and  dwell  with  them,  even  as  he  dwelt  with 
their  fathers. 


24 


?T8  THE   SALZBURGERS 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  town  of  Ebenezcr — Its  present  appearance — The  results  of 
this  experiment  at  colonization — The  colonies  in  New  England, 
Virginia,  and  the  Carolinas — Royal  Historical  Society  of  Aus- 
tria— Inquiries  as  to  the  fate  of  the  Salzburgers  answered — Re- 
ligious and  social  influence  of  the  Salzburgers  upon  the  other 
colonists — Religious  sentiments  of  the  first  pastors — Dr.  Haze- 
lius's  testimony — Present  condition  and  pursuits  of  their  de- 
scendants—  Efiingham  county  —  General  reflections  —  Conclu- 
sion. 

To  one  visiting  the  ancient  town  of  Ebenezer, 
in  the  present  day,  the  prospect  which  presents 
itself  is  any  thing  but  attractive ;  and  the 
stranger  who  is  unacquainted  with  its  history 
would  perhaps  discover  very  little  to  excite 
his  curiosity  or  awaken  his  sympathies.  The 
town  has  gone  almost  entirely  to  ruins.  Only 
two  residences  are  now  remaining,  and  even 
one  of  these  is  untenanted.  The  old  church, 
however,  stands  in  bold  relief  upon  an  open 
lawn,  and  by  its  somewhat  antique  appearance 
seems  silently,  yet  forcibly,  to  call  up  the  re- 
miniscences of  former  years.  Not  far  distant 
from  the  church  is  the  cemetery,  in  which 
are  sleeping  the  remains  of  the  venerable  men 
who  founded   the  colony  and    the  church,  and 


AND   THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  279 


many  of  their  descendants,  who,  one  by  one, 
have  gone  down  to  the  grave,  to  mingle  their 
ashes  with  those  of  their  illustrious  ancestors. 

Except  upon  the  Sabbath,  when  the  descend- 
ants of  the  Salzburgers  go  up  to  their  temple 
to  worship  the  God  of  their  fathers,  the  stillness 
which  reigns  around  Ebenezer  is  seldom  broken, 
save  by  the  warbling  of  birds,  the  occasional 
transit  of  a  steamer,  or  the  murmurs  of  the  Sa- 
vannah, as  it  flows  on  to  lose  itself  in  the  ocean. 
The  sighing  winds  chant  melancholy  dirges  as 
they  sweep  through  the  lofty  pines  and  cedars 
which  cast  their  sombre  shades  over  this  <' de- 
serted village."  Desolation  seems  to  have  spread 
over  this  once-favoured  spot  its  withering  wing, 
and  here,  where  generation  after  generation 
grew  up  and  flourished,  where  the  persecuted 
and  exiled  Salzburgers  reared  their  off'spring,  in 
the  hope  that  they  would  leave  a  numerous  pro- 
geny of  pious,  useful,  and  prosperous  citizens, 
and  where  every  thing  seemed  to  betoken  the 
establishment  of  a  thrifty  and  permanent  colony, 
scarcely  any  thing  is  to  be  seen  except  the  sad 
evidences  of  decay  and  death. 

While  surveying  this  scene,  one  is  almost  in- 
stinctively led  to  inquire  what  advantages  have 
accrued  to  the  Salzburgers  and  their  descend- 
ants, or  to  our  State,  by  their  removal  from  their 
fatherland  and  their  settlement  in  Georgia? 
Have  the  results  of  this  experiment  been  such 


280  THE   SALZBURG ERS 


as  to  compensate  in  any  good  degree  for  the 
large  expenditures  of  money  and  the  various 
sacrifices  which  were  necessary  to  the  establish- 
ment of  this  colony?  These  questions  are  very 
proper,  and  it  is  hoped  that  in  answering  them 
some  rays  of  light  m\\  illume  the  rather  cheer- 
less picture  exhibited  above. 

An  interest  in  the  history  of  the  Salzburgers 
has  been  manifested,  not  only  in  the  United 
States,  but  also  in  Europe.  A  year  or  two 
since,  a  letter  was  received  by  the  Governor  of 
Georgia  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Royal  Histo- 
rical Society  of  Austria,  in  which  information 
was  sought  in  reference  to  the  fate  of  this  inte- 
resting people.  Among  the  questions  proposed 
■were  the  following  : — Did  the  Salzburgers  retain 
their  language  ?  Did  they  ever  change  their 
religion?  To  what  extent  did  they  diffuse  them- 
selves in  Georgia  and  other  portions  of  America? 
Did  they  exert  any  influence  upon  the  civil  in- 
stitutions and  the  religious  character  of  the 
state?  Some  of  these  questions  have  already 
been  answered.  It  has  been  shown  that  the  Salz- 
burgers gradually  acquired  the  use  of  the  Eng- 
lish language,  and  in  1824  it  was  formally 
adopted  in  public  worship  in  all  the  congrega- 
tions in  and  about  Ebenezer.  It  has  also  been 
stated  that  many  of  the  Salzburgers  forsook  the 
church  of  their  fathers  at  various  times,  and 
united  with  other  denominations.     Nevertheless, 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  281 


the  great  bulk  of  their  descendants  have  re- 
mained faithfully  attached  to  the  religion  Avhich 
their  ancestors  professed  "with  so  much  moral 
heroism  amid  the  severest  persecutions  in  their 
native  land,  and  to  enjoy  which,  without  moles- 
tation, they  cheerfully  submitted  to  every  form 
of  suffering  and  privation,  and  even  to  banish- 
ment and  death.  The  other  questions  remain 
to  be  discussed.  Various  considerations  render 
it  necessary  that  they  should  be  briefly  con- 
sidered before  this  little  volume  is  brought  to  a 
close. 

There  is  a  commendable  curiosity  which 
prompts  many  to  desire  to  know  to  what  extent 
the  descendants  of  the  Salzburgers  have  been 
multiplied  ?  What  is  their  general  character 
for  intelligence  and  morality  ?  What  are  their 
pursuits  ?  To  what  extent  and  in  what  depart- 
ments of  life  have  they  become  distinguished? 
And,  in  short,  in  how  far  have  they  exerted  any 
beneficial  influence  upon  the  social  and  religious 
character  of  the  state  ?  Besides,  there  are 
many  men  so  decidedly  utilitarian  in  their  views, 
that  they  regard  no  enterprise  as  worthy  of 
commendation  or  patronage  which  does  not 
promise  great  practical  benefits  to  all  who  are 
in  any  wise  associated  with  it. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  history  of  the  colo- 
nies planted  in  New  England,  in  Virginia,  and 
21-^ 


282  iiiE  sALZcriiGEns 


the  Carolinas,  "will  no  doubt  suggest  similar  in- 
quiries. The  Puritans,  as  has  been  stated,  left 
the  impress  of  their  character  indelibly  fixed 
upon  all  their  institutions.  By  their  industry  and 
indomitable  energy,  they  felled  the  forests,  and, 
amid  almost  inconceivable  hardships  and  dangers, 
brought  under  successful  cultivation  a  somewhat 
rocky  and  barren  soil ;  making  it  yield  them 
not  only  the  necessaries,  but  even  the  comforts 
and  luxuries  of  life.  They  planted  churches 
and  established  colleges  and  schools,  many  of 
which  remain,  until  this  day,  the  lasting  monu- 
ments of  their  piety  and  enlightened  liberality. 
In  process  of  time,  they  engaged  in  extensive 
and  successful  commercial  enterprises ;  and  hav- 
ing built  up  towns  and  cities,  and  settled  most 
of  the  adjacent  territory  with  an  energetic,  in- 
telligent, and  virtuous  population,  they  sent  out 
their  descendants  to  almost  every  portion  of  our 
country ;  and  wherever  the  sons  of  New  Eng- 
land are  found,  they  are  generally  the  pioneers 
in  commerce,  in  education,  and,  in  short,  in 
every  thing  which  tends  to  elevate  individual 
character  and  promote  the  best  interests  of  the 
state.  No  one  can  with  truth  deny  that  from 
the  Pilgrim  Fathers  there  has  descended  a  long 
list  of  worthy  names  who  have  adorned  the 
various  professions,  given  dignity  to  our  public 
councils  by  their  wisdom  and  eloquence,  and 
contributed  their  full  quota  to  the  development 


AXD    TIII'IR    DESCICNDANTS.  283 


of  every  thing  that  is  truly  great  or  glorious  in 
national  character. 

This  is  equally  true  of  the  colonies  of  Vir- 
ginia and  the  Carolinas.  The  descendants  of 
Cavaliers  who  settled  the  "Old  Dominion,"  and 
the  Huguenots  of  Carolina,  not  only  built  up  per- 
manent and  extensive  settlements,  but  they  also, 
in  the  course  of  time,  spread  themselves  over 
many  parts  of  our  widely  extended  domain ; 
and  everywhere,  they  are  distinguished  for  lofty 
intellect,  profound  statesmanship,  heroic  bra- 
very, uncompromising  attachment  to  principle, 
and  an  ardent  love  of  virtue  and  of  liberty. 
Nor  have  they  failed  to  contribute  largely  to 
every  enterprise  which  was  in  any  wise  calcu- 
lated to  increase  the  commercial  importance, 
develop  the  agricultural  resources,  and  secure 
the  safety  and  prosperity  of  the  country.  It 
may  be  truthfully  asserted  that  their  history, 
and  that  of  their  descendants,  furnish  some  of 
the  brightest  and  most  glorious  pages  which 
adorn  the  annals  of  our  country.  This  is  true, 
not  only  of  their  struggles  and  successes,  and 
the  many  thrilling  incidents  connected  with  their 
colonial  history ;  it  is  equally  true  in  relation  to 
the  war  for  Independence,  and  the  bright  recol- 
lections which  the  Revolution  awaken,  as  well 
as  the  conspicuous  part  which  they  have  acted 
in  all  the  affairs  of  our  government,  in  every 
period  of  its  existence.     With  these  considera- 


284  THE   SALZBURGERS 


tions  pressing  upon  the  mind,  the  inquiries  which 
have  been  suggested  in  relation  to  the  Salz- 
burgers  are  both  natural  and  pertinent,  and  it  is 
proposed  to  answer  them  as  far  as  may  be  prac- 
ticable. 

It  would  be  unreasonable  to  expect  that  the 
Salzburgers  and  their  descendants  should  occupy 
as  prominent  a  place  on  the  page  of  history  as 
the  other  colonies,  and  for  reasons  which  are 
very  satisfactory.  Their  language  being  en- 
tirely different  from  that  spoken  in  the  province 
of^ Georgia,  together  with  their  somewhat  pecu- 
liar habits,  kept  them  rather  isolated  from  the 
other  inhabitants,  and  made  them  measurably  a 
distinct  colony.  Besides,  as  their  location  pre- 
vented them  from  becoming  a  commercial  peo- 
ple, and  as  they  confined  themselves  almost  ex- 
clusively to  the  pursuits  of  agriculture,  they  did 
not  possess  those  facilities  for  extending  their 
settlements  and  increasing  their  wealth  and  their 
influence,  which  were  enjoyed  by  the  other  colo- 
nists. It  should  be  remembered,  that  they  were 
poor,  houseless  wanderers,  who  were  sent  to 
Georgia  upon  the  charity  of  their  Christian 
friends  in  Europe;  and,  for  many  years  after 
their  arrival,  their  poverty  prevented  them  from 
doing  more  than  simply  providing  a  competency 
for  their  families. 

Besides  this,  the  climate  was  unfavourable  to 
the  rapid  increase  of  population ;  and,  during  the 


AND   THEIR    DESCENDANT?.  285 


first  years  of  tlic  colony,  many  of  the  Salz- 
burgers  fell  victims  to  the  fevers  and  other 
diseases  which  are  always  more  or  less  inciden- 
tal to  southern  latitudes,  especially  when  the 
forests  are  newly  cleared.  It  is  true,  there  were 
many  accessions  to  their  numbers  by  way  of  emi- 
gration, during  the  first  four  or  five  years  after 
the  planting  of  the  colony  ;  yet,  from  the  causes 
already  mentioned,  the  Salzburgers  did  not  mul- 
tiply very  rapidly,  and  their  settlements  were 
confined  to  a  limited  portion  of  the  state. 

It  is  nevertheless  true,  that,  as  far  as  their 
circumstances  would  permit,  they  made  every 
efibrt  to  identify  themselves  with  the  interests 
of  the  province,  and  contributed  to  the  best  of 
their  ability  to  promote  its  prosperity.  If  they 
did  not  become  as  distinguished  as  the  other 
colonies  in  commerce  and  wealth,  and  if  they 
did  not  occupy  so  important  and  influential  a 
position,  and  if  their  descendants  did  not  be- 
come as  renowned  in  the  cabinet  and  the  field 
as  the  sons  of  New  England,  Virginia,  and  the 
Carolinas,  or  even  as  some  of  the  sons  of 
Georgia,  yet  there  is  much  in  the  character  and 
history  of  the  Salzburgers,  which  would  adorn 
the  annals  of  any  country. 

This  is  true,  not  only  of  their  transatlantic 
history,  with  its  many  incidents  of  holy  devotion 
to  the  faith  of  the  gospel,  under  the  most 
studied  and  revolting  persecutions ;  it  is  likewise 


286  THE    SALZBURG ERS 


true  of  them  after  their  removal  to  America. 
In  circumstances  of  the  severest  trial,  whether 
sufifering  from  fatigue  or  hunger,  or  lying  pros- 
trate under  the  influence  of  fatal  diseases,  they 
evinced  a  degree  of  Christian  fortitude  -which 
did  not  fail  to  make  a  most  favourable  impres- 
sion upon  their  neighbours.  If,  then,  they  had 
done  nothing  more  than  simply  to  set  an  exam- 
ple to  the  other  colonists  of  holy  living,  and  of 
patient,  uncomplaining  resignation  to  the  divine 
■will ;  if  the  only  record  which  could  be  made  of 
them  was,  that  they  were  consistent  Christians, 
<'and  adorned  the  doctrines  of  God  their  Saviour 
in  all  things;"  the  moral  influence  of  even  such 
a  record,  would  entitle  them  to  distinction 
among  the  benefactors  of  their  race.  That  such 
was  their  character,  is  abundantly  proven  by  all 
who  knew  them;  and  in  every  sketch  of  the 
early  history  of  Georgia,  honourable  mention 
has  been  made  of  the  piety  and  purity  of  life 
exhibited  by  the  Salzburgers,  and  especially  by 
their  pastors.  It  may  be  necessary,  however, 
to  refer  to  this  subject  again. 

In  the  civil  and  military  afi'airs  of  the  colony, 
many  of  the  Salzburgers  became  conspicuous. 
When,  in  1775,  the  Provincial  Congress  assem- 
bled in  Savannah,  to  adopt  measures  to  protect 
the  Province  against  the  unjust  and  arbitrary 
legislation  of  the  Mother  Country,  St.  Mat- 
thew's Parish,  was  represented  in  that  Congress, 


AND   THEIR   DESCENDANTS.  287 


in  part,  by  John  Stirk,  John  Adam  Treutlin, 
Jacob  Waldhauer,  John  Fieri,  and  Christopher 
Cramer,  all  of  whom  were  Salzburgers.  Mr. 
Truetlin  also  filled  the  office  of  Provincial  Go- 
vernor, and  in  all  the  proceedings  which  were 
adopted  for  the  preservation  of  the  liberties  of 
the  Province,  the  Salzburgers  heartily  concurred. 
When  the  Revolution  commenced,  as  has 
already  been  shown,  they  took  a  very  decided 
stand  in  favour  of  the  cause  of  liberty.  In  the 
list  of  persons  proscribed  by  the  British  Parlia- 
ment as  Rebels,  occur  the  names  of  the  follow- 
ing Salzburgers : — J.  A.  Treutlin,  Rebel  Gover- 
nor, Col.  John  Stirk,  "William  Hobzendorf,  Ru- 
dolph Strohaker,  Samuel  Stirk,  George  Wyche, 
John  Schnider,  and  others.  From  this  it  will 
be  seen,  that  in  the  very  incipiency  of  the  Revo- 
lution, they  arrayed  themselves  on  the  side  of 
the  Colonists,  and  were  willing  to  incur  all  the 
risks  connected  with  that  struggle.  In  every 
emergency  they  contributed  what  they  could  to 
the  relief  of  the  Colony,  promptly  and  cheer- 
fully making  every  sacrifice,  and  performing 
every  duty  which  seemed  to  be  demanded  by 
the  welfare  of  the  Province.  And,  in  proportion 
to  their  ability,  no  portion  of  the  population  did 
more  to  advance  the  various  interests  of  the 
country.  In  short,  they  became  fully  identified 
with  the  Whigs  of  the  Revolution,  and  in  all  the 
dangers  and  sufi'erings  of  that  memorable  epoch 


288  THE    SALZBURGEKS 


in  our  country's  history,  they  bore  then-  full 
share.  When  the  war  terminated,  they  ^Yent  to 
•work,  patiently  and  zealously  to  cultivate  the 
soil,  to  improve  their  homesteads,  and  to  repair, 
as  far  as  practicable,  the  injuries  which  their 
settlements  had  suffered,  and  to  restore  to  the 
Colony  the  prosperity  which  it  had  enjoyed 
prior  to  the  war.  In  these  purposes  they  per- 
severed, and  in  process  of  time  they  were  suc- 
cessful in  regaining  much  that  had  been  lost 
during  those  troublesome  times ;  and  they  saw 
their  settlements  extending,  and  their  descend- 
ants multiplying,  until  they  spread  themselves 
over  the  whole  of  the  county  of  Effingham,  and 
even  into  many  of  the  adjacent  counties. 

It  is  proper,  before  a  more  minute  sketch  is 
given  of  the  condition  and  pursuits  of  the  Salz- 
buro;ers,  that  somethino;  should  be  said  in  refer- 
ence  to  their  religious  character,  and  the  doc- 
trines of  which  the  pastors  at  Ebenezer  may 
with  propriety  be  said  to  have  been  the  expo- 
nents. This  is  deemed  important,  not  only  as 
illustrative  of  the  moral  influence  which  the 
Salzburgers  may  be  supposed  to  have  exerted 
upon  the  other  Colonists ;  it  is  necessary,  espe- 
cially to  the  Lutheran  Church,  as  it  will  exhibit 
in  a  proper  light,  the  religious  views  of  the 
founders  of  American  Lutheranism,  upon  som.e 
of  the  cardinal  doctrines  of  Christianity.  This 
is  rendered  the  more  important,  because  of  the 


AND   THFJR    DESCENDANTS.  289 


tendency  of  too  many  professing  Christians  in 
the  present  day,  to  what  has  been  very  properly 
called  "  sacramentalism,"  or  the  settling  down 
in  a  cold  and  lifeless  orthodoxy.  It  is  hoped 
that,  by  exhibiting  in  a  prominent  light  the 
teachings  and  experience  of  the  pastors  who  had 
the  spiritual  oversight  of  the  Colony  of  Salz- 
biirgers,  many  false  impressions  which  now  exist 
in  relation  to  the  distinctive  doctrines  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  will  be  removed,  and -it  will  be 
made  to  appear  that  our  pious  ancestors  were 
the  friends  and  advocates  of  a  vital,  soul-renew- 
ing, and  soul-pervading  Christianity.  A  sickly 
sentimentality,  which  seeks  to  substitute  a  specu- 
lative philosophy,  or  a  formal  Christianity,  for 
the  power  of  a  living,  active  faith,  received  no 
countenance  from  them.  True,  they  were 
<' symbolists,"  in  a  restricted  sense,  because  they 
subscribed  to  the  Augsburg  Confession,  and  the 
other  symbols  of  the  Lutheran  Church;  but  they 
never  gave  undue  importance  to  the  ordinances 
of  religion,  while  they  taught,  both  by  precept 
and  example,  that  true  Christianit}^  is  a  heavenly 
principle  implanted  in  the  soul  by  the  Holy 
Spirit ;  and  that,  whenever  it  is  experienced,  it 
produces  a  new  creation,  and  conforms  the  soul 
to  the  image  of  Him  by  whose  spirit  we  are  re- 
newed, and  made  the  partakers  of  a  divine  inner 
life. 

As  illustrative  of  this  view,  an  extract  is  sub- 
25 


290  TTIF.    ^ALZnURGEl^r 


joined  from  Dr.  llazelius's  history  of  the  Ameri- 
can Lutheran  Church.  He  remarks: — "From 
the  journals  of  the  ministers  labouring  among 
the  Salzburgers,  it  is  evident  that  their  aim  was 
to  direct  their  flock  into  the  narrow  path  that 
leadeth  unto  life.  Though  thej  were  anxious  to 
influence  the  members  of  their  church  to  the 
observance  of  an  external  decorum,  and  to  sub- 
mission to  good  church  discipline ;  and  though, 
according  to  the  testimony  of  their  neighbours, 
the  inhabitants  of  the  villages  round  about  them, 
and  those  of  Savannah,  as  also  to  that  of  the 
colonial  government,  this  congregation  was  dis- 
tinguished in  that  respect ;  and  though  the  pas- 
tors were  also  desirous  that  the  people  should 
be  duly  affected  by  the  preaching  of  the  word, — 
yet  it  is  evident,  from  every  statement  they  make, 
that  they  were  labouring  to  impress  this  truth 
deeply  on  the  minds  of  the  people,  that  neither 
an  external  observance  of  order,  nor  an  excite- 
ment of  mere  animal  feelings,  insures  us  the 
high  title  of  being  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
God ;  but  the  approach  of  the  heart  and  mind 
to  the  character  of  our  great  prototype,  the 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  as  well  as  to 
have  a  conscience  void  of  offence  before  God  and 
man." 

In  this  connection,  it  may  be  appropriate  to 
make  a  few  brief  extracts  from  the  letters  and 
journal  of  Mr.  Bolzius.     In  one  of  his  letters 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  21)1 


he  remarks : — ^'We  acknowlcclgc,  to  tlie  praise 
of  God,  that  piety  and  contentment  still  reign 
amonor  us,  as  even  stran^j^crs  arc  willin";  to   ac- 

knowledge Among  our  congregation  are 

many  men  and  -women  Avho  are  truly  converted 
to  God,  and  Avho  walk  in  the  truth,  and  are  an 
ornament  to  our  office,  and  humble  assistants  in 
the  discharge  of  our  duties."  In  his  journal  he 
makes  these  minutes  : — "  Careless  and  froward 
men  are  indeed  presuming  upon  Christ  and  his 
merits,  without  seeking  conversion,  but  he  calls 
those  only  who  labour  and  are  heavy  laden ;  and 
if  they  come  to  Christ,  anxious  for  their  soul's 
salvation,  the  tempter  will  endeavour  to  deprive 
them  of  the  grace  in  Christ.  AVe  ought,  how- 
ever, to  lay  firm  hold  on  him  and  his  merits,  be- 
cause he  is  not  only  the  beginning,  but  also  the 
finisher  of  our  faith,  and  his  honour  is  concerned 
to  finish  the  work  he  has  begun."  ....  In 
another  place  he  remarks: — "It  is  terrible  in- 
deed to  offend  God  with  wilful  sins,  and  to  sin 

in  hopes  of  his   mercy Thousands    are 

going  to  hell  while  flattering  themselves  with 
this  delusive  promise ;  and  even  when  the  eyes 
of  some  are  truly  opened  and  their  hearts  con- 
verted to  God,  and  they  have  received  the  par- 
don of  sins  in  the  order  of  true  repentance  and 
faith  in  Christ,  God  nevertheless  frequently 
causes  them  to  feel  the  heinousness  and  guilt  of 
sii^" 


292  THE    SALZBUIIGERS 


Mr.  Bolzius,  in  that  part  of  his  journal  in 
which  he  furnishes  an  account  of  the  illness  and 
death  of  his  colleague,  Mr.  Gronau,  seems  de- 
sirous to  lay  peculiar  stress  upon  the  evidences 
•which  Mr.  Gronau  furnished  of  his  acceptance 
with  God,  and  his  hope  of  a  better  life.  This  is 
his  lan^xuas'e :  ''The  time  of  Mr.  Gronau's  ill- 
ness  has  been  a  source  of  edification  to  us  who 
were  daily  about  his  person.  His  heart  continu- 
ally enjoyed  communion  with  his  Eedeemer. 
Nothing  troubled  him,  for  he  tasted  the  reconci- 
liation with  God,  and  the  joy  and  peace  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.  He  fell  asleep,  and  entered  into 
the  joy  of  his  Lord,  full  of  peace." 

It  would  be  easy  to  furnish  many  such  ex- 
tracts, all  going  to  show  that  the  first  pastors  at 
Ebenezer  were  men  of  devoted  piety,  and  that 
they  were  not  only  themselves  the  subjects  of 
the  rencAving,  transforming  power  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  but  that  in  all  their  preaching,  as  well  as 
in  their  private  instructions,  they  labouj-ed  to 
inculcate  a  religion  which  "new  creates  the 
soul"  in  the  likeness  of  God,  and  produces  a 
radical  change  in  our  whole  moral  constitution. 
So  that,  under  the  influence  of  this  new  princi- 
ple, we  become  the  children  of  God,  receive 
"  the  spirit  of  adoption,"  and  are  enabled  "  to 
walk  in  all  his  ordinances  and  commandments 
blameless." 

This  is  true  not  only  of  Messrs.  Bolzius  ^d 


AND   TIIEIK   DESCEXDAXTP.  20o 


Gronau,  but  also  of  Messrs.  Lembkc,  Rabcn- 
horst,  and  Bergman.  It  is  true,  there  arc  very 
few  facts  in  the  history  of  the  two  former  which 
have  been  preserved,  but  enough  is  known  to 
warrant  the  opinion  just  expressed.  Those  who 
knew  Mr.  Lembke  personally,  bear  testimony 
to  his  humble  piety  and  faithful  dealing  with  the 
souls  committed  to  his  trust.  Mr.  Bolzius,  in 
his  journal,  speaks  of  <'  the  excellent  spirit" 
which  Mr.  Lembke  always  exhibited,  and  com- 
mends him  for  his  unremitting  diligence  in  the 
discharge  of  every  duty.  This  was  likewise  the 
case  in  relation  to  Mr.  Rabenhorst.  Not  only 
does  Mr,  Bolzius  speak  favourably  of  him  for 
his  zeal,  humility,  and  great  diligence  as  a  pas- 
tor, but  Dr.  H.  M.  ^luhlenburg,  in  his  Journal 
of  a  Voyage  to  Georgia,  mentions  him  in  the 
most  flattering  terms,  as  a  man  and  a  Christian, 
and  especially  as  a  faithful  and  devoted  pastor. 
Dr.  Muhlenburg  instances  as  a  peculiarity  in 
Mr.  Rabenhorst's  preaching,  that  he  insisted  on 
the  doctrine  of  the  neiv  birth,  and  was  decidedly 
evangelical  in  all  his  views  and  feelings.  The 
same  statement  may  be  made  of  Mr.  Bergman. 

From  all  this  it  will  appear,  that  the  religious 
sentiments  inculcated  by  the  pastors  at  Eben- 
ezer,  and  which  they  enforced  by  their  own  ex- 
perience and  example,  were  decidedly  in  favour 
of  practical,  experimental  godliness.  They  be- 
lieved and  taught  that  true  religion  has  its  seat 


294  THE    SALZBURGERS 


only  in  the  soul  which  has  been  born  from  above  ; 
that  in  every  soul  thus  renewed  Christ  dwells 
by  his  Spirit,  imparting  new  life  and  energy  to 
our  spiritual  nature;  and  thus  becoming  the 
great  fountain  of  our  strength,  and  hope,  and 
joy,  he  reigns  in  us  as  the  grand  controlling 
motive  of  all  our  noblest  purposes  and  loftiest 
aspirations,  and  leads  us  from  one  attainment  in 
righteousness  and  holiness  to  another,  until  we 
are  made  meet  for  ''  the  inheritance  among  the 
saints  in  light," 

In  fact,  the  whole  of  the  early  history  of  the 
Salzburgers  is  but  an  exemplification  of  this 
great  doctrine  of  Christianity.  This  was  true 
of  them  while  they  dwelt  in  their  native  valleys 
and  mountains.  It  was  for  their  bold  and  un- 
compromising attachment  to  a  pure  and  holy 
faith — a  <•<■  faith  that  works  by  love  and  purifies 
the  heart" — that  they  became  the  objects  of  the 
most  cruel  and  unrelenting  persecutions.  For 
maintaining  this  faith  they  were  driven  from 
their  country  and  their  homes,  and  cast  upon 
the  charities  of  their  Christian  brethren.  Amid 
scenes  of  the  severest  trial  and  suffering,  they 
demonstrated  the  sustaining  power  as  well  as  the 
comforting  influences  of  that  heaven-born  Chris- 
tianity, for  the  enjoyment  of  which  "  they  took 
gladly  the  spoiling  of  their  goods,"  and  became 
pilgrims  and  sojourners  in  the  earth.  When  the 
good  providence  of  God  delivered  them  from  the 


AST)    THEIR    DESCENDANT.?.  295 


hands  of  their  enemies,  and  brought  them  safely 
to  a  land  where  they  could  enjoy  their  religion 
unawed  by  human  restraint,  they  erected  their 
temples,  and  from  their  pulpits,  and  by  their  ex- 
amples of  holy  living,   and   their  peaceful   and 
triumphant  death,  they  furnished  fresh  evidences 
of  the    importance   of  this    great   fundamental 
doctrine  in  the  Christian  system.     If,  then,  the 
history  of  the  Salzburgers,  both  in  Europe  and 
after  their  removal  to  Georgia,  had  done  nothing 
more   than  furnish  illustrations   of  the   reality 
and  the  power  of  this  vital  principle  of  Chris- 
tianity, they  would  be  justly  entitled  to  a  promi- 
nent place  among  those  who,  by  becoming  living 
witnesses  to  the  truth  of  Christianity  as  a  re- 
newing and  sustaining  principle,  have  furnished 
some  of  the   strongest  encouragements   to  our 
faith  and  hope,  and  some  of  the  most  powerful 
incentives    to   the    conscientious    discharge    of 
Christian  duty,  even  under  the  most  adverse  cir- 
cumstances.    That  such  was  the  influence  which 
the  Salzburgers  exerted  is  proven  by  the  testi- 
mony of  Wesley  and  Whitfield,  and  all  who  had 
an  opportunity  to  acquire  a  correct  knowledge 
of  their  religious  opinions  and  character ;    and 
whenever  the  Christian  shall  searx5h  the  records 
of  the  church  in  modern  times  to  discover  in- 
stances of  moral  heroism  in  the  maintenance  of 
our  holy  religion,  and  of  humble.,  devoted  piety, 
the  history  of  the  Salzburgers  may   be   conti- 


290  THE   SALZBURGERS 


dcntly  appealed   to  as  furnishing  some  of  the 
brightest  and  most  striking  examples. 

This  is  likewise  true  of  the  social  influence 
which  they  exerted.  In  their  habits  they  were 
frugal,  temperate,  and  industrious.  They  knew 
very  little  of  the  artificial  wants  of  life,  and 
hence  were  easily  contented  when  supplied  with 
its  necessaries.  Having  an  unwavering  confi- 
dence in  the  providential  care  of  their  heavenly 
Father,  they  laboured  cheerfully  and  hopefully 
amid  the  most  discouraging  circumstances,  and 
thus  set  an  example  to  the  other  colonists  which 
was  not  without  its  influence.  As  a  consequence, 
the  colonial  authorities  frequently  commended 
their  habits  of  diligence,  sobriety,  honesty,  and 
general  virtue.  To  the  cultivation  of  their  lands 
and  the  improvement  of  their  homesteads  they 
devoted  themselves  with  great  assiduity,  so  that 
they  became  successful  farmers,  and  their  settle- 
ments were  always  spoken  of  as  models  of  neat- 
ness, and  their  farms  furnished  the  best  speci- 
mens of  profitable  tillage.  In  their  intercourse 
with  the  other  colonists  they  exhibited  a  friendly 
and  peaceable  disposition.  In  their  business 
transactions  they  were  generally  just  and  up- 
right, and  never  compromitted  their  Christian 
integrity  for  any  temporary  worldly  gains.  In 
all  the  relations  of  life  they  were  dutiful,  and 
sought  to  display  the  influence  of  Christianity 
h)  so  regulating  human  conduct  as  to  make  our 


AND    THEIR    DESCENDANTS.  20' 


social  intercourse  a  source  of  happiness  as  weU 
as  of  mutual  improvement.  To  such  an  extent 
did  the  spirit  of  peace  reign  among  them,  thai 
for  many  years  they  had  no  courts  of  justice, 
and  referred  all  disputed  matters  to  the  arbitra 
tion  of  their  pastors  and  the  elders  of  the 
church.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  in  the  history 
of  Effingham  county,  that  there  has  generally 
been  so  little  litigation  among  the  inhabitants, 
that  until  within  the  last  few  years,  it  was  a  rare 
thing  for  a  session  of  the  Superior  Court  to  con- 
tinue more  than  two  days.  From  these  state- 
ments, it  is  manifest  that  the  influence  which  the 
Salzburgers  exerted  upon  the  religious  and  social 
interests  of  the  colony  were  decidedly  beneficial, 
and  their  conduct  in  these  particulars  will  ever 
form  a  bright  page  in  the  colonial  history  of 
Georgia. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  ascertain  to  w^hat  ex- 
tent the  descendants  of  the  Salzburgers  have 
been  multiplied,  and  in  what  localities  they  are 
to  be  found.  Their  principal  settlement  is  in 
Effingham  county,  Georgia,  which  constituted 
formerly  a  part  of  the  parishes  of  St.  Philip  and 
St.  Matthew.  This  county  was  the  seat  of  the 
colony  when  the  Salzburgers  emigrated  to 
Georgia.  It  has  the  Savannah  river  for  its  east- 
ern boundary.  The  length  of  the  county  is  thirty 
miles,  and  its  breadth  sixteen,  and  it  contains 
about   four  hundred   and  eighty  square   mile^3. 


298  THE    SALZBURGERS 


The  principal  streams,  besides  the  Savannah  and 
Ogeechee  rivers,  are  the  Big  and  Little  Eben- 
ezer,  Turkey  Branch,  Jack's,  Lockner's,  and 
Kogler's  creeks,  or  more  properly  branches. 
The  population  is  about  four  thousand,  including 
one  thousand  six  hundred  slaves.  Of  the  ^\liite 
population,  fully  nineteen-twentieths  are  the 
lineal  descendants  of  the  Salzburgers ;  and  it  is 
pleasing  to  state,  that  they  retain  many  of  the 
characteristics  of  their  forefathers.  They  are  for 
the  most  part  an  industrious,  frugal,  and  peace- 
able people,  and  are  doing  much  in  developing 
the  resources  of  their  county. 

Their  chief  pursuits  are  the  tillage  of  the  soil, 
and  the  getting  of  wood  and  timber  for  the  Sa- 
vannah market.  They  have  been  successful  in 
raising  silk  on  a  small  scale,  and  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  sugar-cane.  The  majority  of  them 
make  their  own  sugar  and  syrup,  and  some  of 
them  produce  these  articles  for  market.  They 
also  pay  considerable  attention  to  the  rearing 
of  cattle  and  poultry,  and  the  raising  of  fruits 
and  vegetables,  for  which  they  always  find  ready 
sale  in  Savannah.  Their  lands,  for  the  most 
part,  are  not  well  adapted  to  cotton,  and  hence 
but  little  is  cultivated:  the  annual  average 
amount  being  about  three  hundred  and  fifty 
bales,  and  a  very  small  portion  of  this  is  pro- 
duced by  the  Salzburgers.    The  articles  to  which 


I)     ill  KIR    r)K>CT,XD.\XT.^.  200 


they  direct  tlieir  attention  are  rice,  corn,  rye, 
peas,  potatoes,  and  \Yheat.  The  two  latter,  under 
the  system  of  culture  adopted  by  the  Salzbur- 
gers,  succeed  admirably  well.  It  is  often  the 
case  that  thirty  bushels  of  wheat  are  obtained 
from  an  acre,  though  this  is  very  far  beyond  the 
average  crop. 

Besides  the  pursuits  of  agriculture,  many  of 
the  Salzburgers  are  excellent  mechanics,  and 
there  is  a  family  that  has  become  celebrated  for 
the  manufacture  of  copper  bells.  These  bells 
always  command  a  higher  price  in  Savannah 
than  any  which  are  imported  either  from  North- 
ern or  European  markets.  Some  of  the  Salz- 
burgers have  also  become  distinguished  mer- 
chants. In  the  city  of  Savannah  many  of  them 
are  settled,  Avho  have  been  very  successful. 
Among  these  are  the  Rahns,  the  Sniders,  the 
Heidts,  the  Zittrauers,  the  Herbs,  the  Gougles, 
the  Remsharts,  the  Neidlingers,  the  Ihleys,  and 
others.  It  is  not  known  that  any  of  them  have 
become  distinguished  in  the  professions. 

It  is  necessary  to  state,  that  the  descendants 
of  the  Salzburgers  (as  has  been  already  inti- 
mated) settled  in  many  of  the  counties  of  Geor- 
gia, and  some  of  them  removed  to  South  Caro- 
lina, Alabama,  Florida,  and  even  to  Pennsylva- 
nia and  Ohio.  In  Liberty  and  Lowndes  coun- 
ties, Georgia,  may  be  found  the  Dashers,  the 


SOO  THE    SALZBURG EKS 


Waldhauers,  the  AVeisenbakers,  and  others.  In 
Macon  county  the  Helfensteins,  (now  Ilelvenston;) 
in  other  portions  of  the  state,  the  Hangleiters, 
the  Scheubtriens,  the  Hineleys,  the  Exleys,  and 
the  descendants  of  the  Sniders,  v^ho  have  inter- 
married with  other  families  in  the  state.  It 
would  be  impossible,  however,  to  give  any  thing 
like  an  accurate  account  of  the  diffusion  of 
the  Salzburgers,  and  this  hasty  sketch  must 
suffice. 

It  has  been  remarked  that  very  few,  if  any, 
of  the  descendants  of  the  Salzburgers,  ever  be- 
came distinguished  in  the  professions.  This  may 
be  owing  in  a  great  measure  to  the  fact  that,  as 
a  general  thing,  the  standard  of  education  among 
the  descendants  of  the  Salzburgers  has  been 
rather  low,  especially  in  the  last  fifty  years, 
though  it  is  believed  that  latterly  there  has  been 
some  improvement  in  this  particular.  Besides 
this,  very  few"  of  them  seemed  to  have  any  taste 
for  literary  pursuits ;  and  having  no  college,  and 
very  few  good  scholars,  there  was  an  absence  of 
all  those  stimulants  vdiich  are  necessary  to 
quicken  the  intellect  into  vigorous  exercise,  and 
excite  that  ambition  for  literary  fame  which 
leads  the  mind  to  thirst  after  professional  dis- 
tinction. The  tastes  and  educational  biasses  of 
the  Salzburgers  seem  always  to  have  led  them 
to  prefer  the  quiet  and  unobtrusive,  though  not 


AND    TIIKIR    DESCENDANTS.  301 


less  useful  and  honourable,  pursuits  of  agricul- 
ture. In  the  retirement  and  comparative  seclu- 
sion connected  Avith  the  culture  of  the  soil,  and 
kindred  employments,  they  find  their  chief  en- 
joyment ;  especially  as  this  mode  of  life  seems 
of  all  others  the  best  adopted  to  the  fostering 
of  that  pious  and  contemplative  spirit  which  has 
ever  been  one  of  their  peculiar  characteristics. 
In  this  connection  it  may  be  proper  to  state  a 
somewhat  remarkable  fact,  that  not  one  of  the 
descendants  of  the  Salzburgers  ever  aspired  to 
the  ministry  in  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  not 
one  of  them  ever  became  the  pastor  at  Ebenezer, 
except  the  Rev.  C.  F.  Bergman.  But  even  he 
can  hardly  be  classed  among  the  Salzburgers. 
It  is  true  that  his  father  was  pastor  at  Ebenezer 
for  thirty-six  years,  but  yet  he  was  a  native  of 
Prussia,  and  had  no  identity  with  his  congrega- 
tion except  that  growing  out  of  the  pastoral 
relation. 

The  present  condition  of  the  descendants  of 
the  Salzburgers,  especially  in  Effingham  county, 
may  be  regarded  on  the  whole  as  rather  favour- 
able. In  their  temporal  affairs  they  are  pros- 
perous, perhaps  as  much  so  as  at  any  former 
period,  and  there  is  a  gradual  improvement  in 
their  intelligence  and  social  habits.  They  are 
becoming  by  degrees  more  interested  in  the 
cause  of  education,  and  books  and  periodical 


302  THE   SALZBURGER9 


literature  are  sought  -with  considerable  avidity. 
As  a  consequence,  there  has  been  an  improve- 
ment in  their  manners  and  social  habits,  and 
there  is  reason  to  hope  that  in  these  particulars 
an  advancement  will  be  made  in  each  successive 
generation,  so  that  they  may  keep  pace  with  the 
citizens  of  other  portions  of  the  State  in  every 
thing  that  tends  to  refine  and  elevate.  These 
desirable  ends  can  be  attained,  if  proper  efforts 
are  made  to  establish  and  sustain  neighbourhood 
schools,  under  the  management  of  competent 
teachers.  This  has  for  years  been  a  great  de- 
ficiency among  the  Salzburgers.  It  is  true  there 
is  a  most  excellent  classical  academy  at  Spring- 
field, the  county  town,  but  this  does  not  and 
cannot  meet  the  educational  wants  of  the  com- 
munity generally.  Upon  this  subject,  so  very 
important  to  the  best  interests  of  every  people, 
there  has  been  manifested  an  indifi*erence  which 
is  any  thing  but  commendable.  No  community 
can  expect  to  prosper  long,  or  to  retain  any  of 
the  elements  necessary  to  its  advancement  in 
true  greatness,  that  does  not  cherish  a  just  ap- 
preciation of  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  system 
of  education.  It  matters  not  how  favourable 
the  state  of  religion  among  any  people  may  be ; 
unless  their  mental  development  corresponds  in 
some  good  measure  with  their  religious  privileges, 
their  piety  will  degenerate  into  a  blind  devotion, 


AND  Tiii-Tii  desce:ndaxts.  303 


or  run  into  some  of  the  numerous  forms  of  fana- 
ticism or  delusion  which  are  always  addressing 
themselves  to  the  over-credulous  and  unwary. 
It  is  to  be  hoped,  therefore,  that  a  more  enlight- 
ened policy  will  obtain  among  the  descendants 
of  the  Salzburgers,  in  reference  to  the  import- 
ance of  furnishing  to  their  offspring  the  neces- 
sary educational  facilities.  For  this  they  have 
a  precedent  in  the  example  of  their  forefathers, 
for  it  has  been  made  to  appear  that  they  enter- 
tained correct  views  upon  this  subject,  and  re- 
garded the  schoolmaster  and  the  parochial  school 
as  only  next  in  importance  to  the  pastor  and  the 
church. 

The  state  of  religion  among  the  descendants 
of  the  Salzburgers  may  be  said  to  be  encourage- 
ing.  Among  a  portion  of  them,  rather  lax  views 
are  entertained  on  the  subject  of  experimental 
piety,  and  as  a  consequence  their  religion  con- 
sists more  in  a  "formal  godliness,"  and  a  decent 
morality,  than  in  that  inward  work  of  the  Spirit 
which  converts  the  soul,  and,  by  purifying  the 
fountain  of  human  actions,  conforms  the  life  to 
the  requirements  of  that  law  which  is  "holy 
and  just  and  right."  Yet,  even  in  this  particu- 
lar, there  is  much  cause  for  encouragement. 
Within  a  few  years,  there  has  been  a  manifest 
change  in  the  religious  sentiments  of  not  a  few, 
and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  a  more  devo- 


804  THE   SALZBURGERS 


tional  spirit  is  gradually,  though  perceptibly, 
prevailing  among  them.  True,  the  standard  of 
piety  is  far  below  what  it  ought  to  be,  and  what 
it  was  in  the  early  days  of  the  colony ;  but  still 
in  the  congregations  there  are  many  devout 
Christians,  the  savour  of  whose  conversation  is 
exerting  a  silent  but  powerful  influence  upon  the 
moral  interests  of  the  church  and  the  community 
generally.  It  is  confidently  hoped  that  this  in- 
fluence will  continue  to  extend  itself  until  the 
present  generation,  and  those  which  may  succeed 
it,  shall  make  the  highest  attainments  in  moral 
excellence,  and  imbibing  more  and  more  of  the 
Spirit  of  Christ,  shall  become  as  distinguished 
for  their  spirituality  and  holy  living  as  were  the 
godly  men  who  in  the  fear  of  God,  and  from  a 
sincere  love  to  a  pure  Christianity,  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  colony.  There  is  ground  for 
this  hope,  in  the  fact  that  the  Salzburgers  are 
enjoying  the  labours  of  two  pious  and  devoted 
pastors,  whose  teachings  and  example,  under  the 
Divine  blessing,  have  already  exerted  a  very 
happy  influence,  and  aff'ord  promise  of  greater 
results  for  the  future.  Besides  this,  it  is  not  to 
be  supposed  that  the  great  Head  of  his  church 
will  permit  this  vine,  which  he  himself  planted 
and  watered  and  nourished  for  so  many  years, 
to  wither  and  decay.  The  pious  care  with  which 
it  has  hitherto  been  cultivated,  and  the  genial 


AND    THKIR    DESCENDANTS.  30o 


showers  of  grace  which  from  time  to  time  have 
poured  upon  it,  will,  it  is  believed,  produce  an 
abundant  harvest,  to  the  praise  of  his  name,  who 
has  declared  in  relation  to  his  church  : — "  Be- 
hold !  I  have  graven  thee  upon  the  palms  of  m^ 
hands,  and  thy  walls  are  ever  before  me."  From 
this  people  there  shall  no  doubt  yet  come  forth 
many  who  will  become  living  witnesses  to  the  con- 
verting power  of  the  gospel,  and  to  the  faith- 
fulness of  that  God  who  safely  led  their  fathers 
through  scenes  of  the  darkest  persecution  and 
distress,  and  gave  them,  both  in  the  land  of  their 
nativity  and  the  land  of  their  adoption,  so  many 
signal  evidences  of  his  love  and  fostering  care. 
Such  will  he  the  case  if  the  descendants  of  the 
Salzburgers  are  not  recreant  to  the  history  of 
their  fathers,  and  insensible  to  all  those  noble 
impulses  which  prompt  mankind  to  venerate  and 
to  imitate  the  virtues  of  a  noble  ancestry. 
That  they  had  an  ancestry  whose  history  is 
luminous  with  every  thing  that  is  attractive  in 
humble  and  consistent  piety,  or  stimulative  in 
moral  heroism  and  uncompromising  attachment 
to  religious  principle,  cannot  be  questioned. 
Surely,  then,  if  there  is  any  inspiration  in  the 
records  of  the  virtuous  and  holy  dead,  if  there 
is  any  thing  suggestive  of  lofty  purpose,  of  love 
for  God  and  his  truth,  and  of  zeal  to  promote  his 
glory  in  the  education  and  proper  development 
26* 


306  THE    SALZLUIIGERS 


of  our  own  spiritual  natures,  or  in  the  religious 
advancement  of  our  race,  the  example  of  the  Salz- 
burgers  cannot  and  -will  not  be  lost.  The  seeds 
of  virtue  and  true  religion  may  for  a  season 
seem  to  be  destroyed,  or  they  may  be  buried 
amid  the  rubbish  of  a  formal  Christianity,  or 
chilled  by  the  blighting  influence  of  a  cold  ortho- 
doxy, but  such  is  the  inherent,  vital  energy  of 
truth,  that  it  will  break  through  all  these  obsta- 
cles, and  triumphing  over  every  opposing  influ- 
ence, produce  its  legitimate  fruits  in  the  hearts 
and  lives  of  men,  and  thus  vindicate  its  claims 
to  their  confidence  and  homage. 

It  is  the  object  and  the  earnest  prayer  of  the 
humble  author  of  this  volume,  that  the  history 
of  the  Salzburgers  may  be  productive  of  some 
such  beneficial  results.  If  so,  he  will  feel  that 
the  time  spent  in  the  preparation  of  this  work 
has  been  most  profitably  employed.  While  he 
laboured  at  Ebenezer  in  the  pastoral  office,  he 
delighted  to  visit  the  cemetery  where  sleep  the 
remains  of  the  venerable  Bolzius  and  Gronau, 
and  the  many  holy  men  who  founded  the  colony 
at  Ebenezer.  Standing  in  that  sacred  receptacle 
of  the  dead,  and  musing  upon  their  example  of 
ministerial  fidelity  and  of  entire  consecration  to 
the  cause  of  Christ,  he  has  felt  rebuked  for  his  own 
imperfections,  and  has  had  the  desire  kindled  in 
his  heart  to  become  a  more  devoted  Christian  and 


AND   THEIR    DESCENDANT.^.  307 


a  more  faithful  and  successful  ambassador  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Alas !  how  far  do  many  of  us, 
both  in  our  experience  and  practice,  fall  below 
the  example  of  the  pious  founders  of  our  Luthe- 
ran Zion  !  and  how  infinitely  far  do  we  fall  be- 
low His  example,  "who  loved  us  and  gave  him- 
self for  us!"  If  such  reflections  are  awakened 
as  shall  lead  to  some  practical  benefits  to  the 
Salzburgers  and  others,  this  history  will  not 
have  been  written  in  vain.  That  such  will  be 
its  influence,  is  confidently  hoped ;  and  in  this 
confidence  it  is  sent  forth,  with  the  prayer  that 
God  may  make  it  a  source  of  instruction  and 
edification  to  all  who  may  read  it.  Surrounded 
as  we  are  by  temptation  to  sin,  and  by  the 
seductive  charms  of  a  corrupt,  and  corrupting 
■world,  we  need  constant  stimulants  to  our  vir- 
tues. "Where  can  we  more  appropriately  look 
for  such  incentives  than  in  the  faith  and  zeal, 
the  holy  fervour  and  consistent  piety,  of  those 
Christians  who,  by  their  devotedness,  have 
illustrated  the  truth,  the  excellency,  and  the 
moral  sublimity  of  our  holy  religion  ?  Such  in- 
centives are  furnished  in  the  History  of  the 
Salzburgers.  As  we  dwell  upon  the  incidents 
of  this  history,  and  the  many  instances  which  it 
furnishes  of  the  power  of  our  holy  religion  to 
sustain  and  comfort  under  the  most  trying  and 
adverse  circumstances   of   human   life,   and  to 


o08  THE    SALZBUllGERS. 


prepare  the  soul  for  a  peaceful  and  happy 
triumph  over  death,  hell,  and  the  grave,  may 
our  faith  in  that  religion  be  confirmed,  may  our 
zeal  and  love  and  hope  be  quickened  into  live- 
lier exercise,  and  thus  may  we  be  better  qualified 
for  the  trials  and  responsibilities  of  life,  and 
prepared  to  join  "the  general  assembly  and 
church  of  the  first-born,  whose  names  are  written 
in  heaven!" 


THE  END. 


STEEEOTTPED  BY  L.  JOHXSON   &  CO. 
PHILADELPHIA. 


This  book  is  due  two  weeks  from  the  last  date  stamped 
below,  and  if  not  returned  at  or  before  that  time  a  fine  of 
five  cents  a  day  will  be  incurred. 


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